"JACOB'S LADDER"
by
Bruce Joel Rubin
EXT. VIETNAM - DUSK
A swarm of helicopters swoops out of a yellow sky and deposits an army
of men over a Vietnamese hillside.
The SOLDIERS scramble over the terraced rice paddies for the protection
of the jungle. Falling into coulmns, like strands of soldier ants,
seventy-five men, at combat readiness, assemble on the edge of a
sweltering wilderness.
It is dusk. The mood is lazy, soporific. Members of one platoon huddle
close to the ground smoking a joint.
JERRY
Strong stuff.
ROD
(to JACOB, a soldier
squatting several yards
away)
Hey, Professor, how many times can
you shit in an hour?
GEORGE
Don't bug 'im.
DOUG
Where are those gooks already?
FRANK
Some offensive. I don't even think
they're out there.
PAUL
Jesus, this grass is something else.
JACOB SINGER returns to the group, pulling up his pants.
ROD
Why even bother to pull 'em up?
FRANK
You jackin' off out there again, huh
Jake?
PAUL
Hey, get off his back.
ROD
It's called philosophizing, right
Professor?
JACOB gives them the finger.
JACOB
Up yours, you adolescent scum.
Laughter.
SERGEANT (V.O.)
Mount your bayonets.
FRANK
(frightened)
Oh shit!
PAUL
Goddam!
ROD
Gimme that joint!
JERRY
Hey, something's wrong.
GEORGE
What is it?
JERRY
My head.
GEORGE
It's nerves. Take another toke.
GEORGE reaches out, extending a joint. Suddenly he gasps and falls to
the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably. The others stand back,
startled. JACOB grabs him and shoves a rifle barrel between his
chattering teeth.
ROD
What's going on?
Before anyone can answer JERRY grabs his head, screaming. He turns
frantically in all directions.
JERRY
Help me! Help me!
PAUL
What the hell ... ?
In seconds JERRY is spinning wildly out of control, his head shaking
into a terrific blur. He crashes into FRANK with the force of a truck.
FRANK slams into the ground as all the air rushes from his lungs. He
begins gasping and hyperventilating. His eyes grow wide and frenzied as
he gulps for air. Fear and confusion sweep across his face. The MEN
watch, horrified, as FRANK's terror escalates beyond reason into all-
out panic.
Suddenly FRANK begins howling. He lunges for his bayonet and, without
warning, attacks the MEN around him.
PAUL
God Almighty!
PAUL spins out of the way as FRANK's bayonet impales the ground. JACOB
jumps on top of FRANK and wrestles him into the tall grass. PAUL rushes
to his assistance.
JACOB stares at FRANK's face as FRANK struggles beneath him. It is the
face of a madman.
PAUL
Good God! What's happening?
The sudden chaos is intensified by the sound of fighting erupting
behind them. Guns crackle and bursts of light penetrate the darkening
sky.
ROD
Behind you! Look out! This is it!
The MEN spin around. PAUL panics and jumps to his feet, leaving JACOB
alone with FRANK. FRANK's eyes burn with demonic force as he gathers
his strength.
JACOB
Don't leave me.
Dark figures, silhouetted by the setting sun, are storming at them.
SOLDIERS squint to see. It is a horrifying vision.
PAUL
They're coming!
Gunfire explodes on all sides. Suddenly PAUL flips out. He begins
screaming uncontrollably, ripping at his clothes and skin. FRANK is
struggling like four men and JACOB is weakening in his effort to
restrain him. Bayonets glimmer in the exchange of fire. Bodies fall.
More bodies keep coming. The first wave is upon them.
ROD shoots into the air. Shadowy forms hurl forward screaming like
banshees. ROD, squinting, jabs with his bayonet, piercing the belly of
his attacker. Agonizing cries accompany his fall. ROD yanks the bayonet
out and stabs again.
In the midst of this madness FRANK shoots to his feet and slams the
butt of his rifle into JACOB's back. There is a cracking sound. JACOB's
eyes freeze with pain. His hands rush for his spine. As he spins around
one of the ATTACKERS jams all eight inches of his bayonet blade into
JACOB's stomach. JACOB screams. It is a loud and piercing wail.
CUT ON THE SOUND OF THE SCREAM to a sudden rush through a long dark
tunnel. There is a sense of enormous speed accelerating toward a
brilliant light. The rush suggests a passage between life and death,
but as the light bursts upon us we realize that we are passing through
a SUBWAY STATION far below the city of NEW YORK.
INT. SUBWAY - NIGHT
THE WHEELS OF AN EXPRESS TRAIN screech through the station. JACOB
SINGER, sitting alone in the last car, wakes up. The sounds of the
scream and the grating wheels merge. He is dazed and confused, not
certain where he is.
JACOB glances around the empty car. His eyes gravitate to overhead
advertisements for hemorrhoid perparations and savings banks. Gradually
his confusion subsides. Shifting uncomfortably he pulls a thick book
out of his back pocket, "The Stranger" by Albert Camus. He begins
reading. Another station blurs by.
JACOB is a good-looking man, of obvious intelligence. He is in his mid-
thirties. It is surprising that he is wearing a mailman's uniform. He
doesn't look like one.
The subway ride seems to go on interminably. JACOB is restless and
concerned. He glances at his watch. It is 3:30 A.M. Putting his book in
his back pocket, JACOB stands up and makes his way through the deserted
car.
INT. SUBWAY TRACKS - NIGHT
JACOB enters the rumbling passageway between the cars. The wheels spark
against the rails. The dark tunnel walls flash by. He pulls the handle
on the door to the next car. It is stuck. He struggles with it. A LADY
sitting alone inside turns to look at him. She seems threatened by his
effort. He motions for her to help. She turns away.
A look of disgust crosses JACOB's face. He kicks the door. It slides
open. The WOMAN seems frightened as he approaches her.
JACOB
Excuse me, do you know if we've
passed Nostrand Avenue yet?
(she doesn't answer)
Excuse me.
(she does not
acknowledge his
existence)
Look, I'm asking a simple question.
Have we hit Nostrand Avenue? I fell
asleep.
WOMAN
(speaking with a Puerto
Rican accent)
I no from around here.
JACOB
(glad for a response)
Yeah, you and everyone else.
JACOB walks to the other end of the car and sits down. The only other
passenger is an OLD MAN lying asleep on the fiberglass bench.
Occasionally his body shudders. It is the only sign of life in him.
The train begins to slow down. JACOB peers out of the window. Nostrand
Avenue signs appear. He is relieved. He gets up and grabs hold of the
overhead bar.
The OLD MAN shudders and stretches out on the seat. As he adjusts his
position, tugging at his coat, JACOB catches a brief glimpse of
something protruding from beneath the coat's hem. His eyes fixate on
the spot, waiting for another look. There is a slight movement and it
appears - a long, red, fleshy protuberance. The sight of it sends
shivers up JACOB's spine. It looks strangely like a tail. Only the
stopping of the train breaks JACOB's stare.
INT. SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT
JACOB is the only passenger getting off. The doors close quickly behind
him. He glances at the LADY sitting by the window. There is a fearful
expression on her face as the train carries her back into the dark
tunnel, out of his sight.
JACOB reaches the exit, a huge metal revolving door surrounded by floor
to ceiling gates. He is about to push when he notices a chain locking
it shut. He stares at it in disbelief.
JACOB
Goddam it.
He turns in a huff and hikes to the other end of the platform. As he
approaches the far exit, his eyes widen. The gate there is also locked.
His hands reach for his hips as he studies an impossible situation.
CUT TO JACOB stepping cautiously onto the ladder going down to the
tracks. A rat scampers by and he gasps.
JACOB
No way!
He starts to climb back up the ladder but sees that there is nowhere
else to go. He juts out his jaw and steps back down.
JACOB is not comfortable on the tracks. He cannot see where he is
stepping. His shoes slpash in unseen liquid which makes him grimace.
The steel girders are coated in subway grime. The oily substance coats
his hands as he reaches for support.
JACOB
Goddam fucking city!
He wipes the grime on his postal uniform as he steps toward the center
track. He reaches for another girder when it begins to vibrate. Two
pinpoints of light hurl toward him. Then the noise arrives confirming
his fear. A train is bearing down on him. JACOB looks frightened, not
sure which way to go. He steps forward, up to his ankle in slime. He
cannot tell which track the train is on. It is moving at phenomenal
speed. The station is spinning. The train's lights merge into one
brilliant intensity.
In near panic JACOB jumps across the track as the train spins by. Its
velocity blows his hair straight up as though it is standing on end. He
clings to a pillar for support, gasping in short breaths.
A few PEOPLE are staring at JACOB from the train. Their faces, pressed
up against the glass, seem deformed. A lone figure waves at him from
the rear window. The train bears them all away. Then it is quiet again.
For a moment JACOB is afraid to move but slowly regains his composure.
He continues to the other side of the tracks and stumbles up the ladder
to the UPTOWN PLATFORM.
CUT TO:
JACOB smiling. The smile, however, is one of irony, not amusement. This
exit too is locked. A heavy chain is wrapped through the bars. JACOB
stares at it with an expression of total bewilderment.
A sudden muffled scream alerts JACOB that he is not alone. His head
turns but sees no one. He hears the scream again. He senses its
direction and walks toward the MEN'S ROOM. A crack of light appears
under the door. He can hear someone moaning inside. JACOB knocks softly
and the moaning stops. The lights click off.
JACOB
Hey, is someone in there?
There is no answer. JACOB stands silently for a moment, not sure what
to do. He can hear whispering. He chews his lower lip nervously and
then reaches for the door. It pushes open.
The light from the station penetrates the darkness. He gasps. He sees a
MAN tied naked to the stall with ANOTHER NAKED MAN grabbing quickly for
his clothes. The BOUND MAN screams.
BOUND MAN
Fuck off! Mind your own business!
A THIRD MAN spins out of the shadows, pointing a kinfe at JACOB's
throat.
MAN
You cocksucker! Get outta here.
The MAN's face is barely human. Before JACOB can even react the door
slams shut. The lock engages. The crack of light reappears. JACOB can
hear laughter coming from inside, followed by a scream. He backs away
from the door. His face is white.
JACOB turns with full fury and storms the gate. The chain gives wayto
his anger. It flies apart and the gate flings open. He stands in
amazement, observing the chain as it slides from between the bars and
drops to the concrete below. The gate squeaks loudly as JACOB pushes it
aside and clangs with an almost painful burst as he slams it shut.
EXT. WILMINGTON TOWERS - DAWN
JACOB walks toward the towering shadows of a massive PUBLIC HOUSING
PROJECT. It is dark and the moonlight silhouettes the huge monolithic
structures. JACOB passes through a vast COURTYARD dominated by the
imposing shapes. Aside from his moving body everything is still.
INT. HALLWAY - DAWN
JACOB steps off a graffiti-festooned ELEVATOR into a long impersonal
hallway. He uses three keys to unlock the door to his APARTMENT.
INT. JACOB'S APT. - DAWN
JACOB enters the darkness without turning on the light. He tries to
navigate his way to the BATHROOM, illuminated by a tiny nightlight in
the distance. His effort is unsuccessful. He bangs loudly into a table.
A WOMAN"s voice calls out.
JEZZIE (V.O.)
Jake, is that you?
JACOB
What the hell did you do, move all
the furniture?
JEZZIE (V.O.)
Why didn't you turn on the light?
JACOB
I didn't want to wake you.
JEZZIE (V.O.)
(sleepy but pleasant)
Gee, thanks a lot.
JACOB
Where is the lamp?
JEZZIE (V.O.)
Where are you?
JACOB
If I knew I wouldn't have to ask.
What did you do? I was happy the way
it was.
JEZZIE (V.O.)
I moved the couch. That's all.
JACOB
Where to?
JACOB crashes into it. A light suddenly goes on. JEZEBEL "JEZZIE"
PIPKIN, 33, is standing in the BEDROOM door tying a man's terrycloth
bathrobe around her waist. Although sleepy, disheveled, and not looking
her best, it is obvious that JEZZIE is a beefy woman, juicy and
sensual.
JEZZIE
That help?
JACOB
(nearly sprawled over
the couch)
Thanks.
He pushes himself up.
JEZZIE
What do you think?
JACOB
What do you mean?
JEZZIE
The room!
JACOB
Oh God, Jezzie, ask me tomorrow.
JEZZIE
It is tomorrow. Four A.M. How come
you're so late?
JACOB
Roberts didn't show up. What could I
say? Besides, it's double time.
JEZZIE
(seeing the grease on
his uniform)
What happened to you?
JACOB
(unbuttoning his shirt
as he walks to the
BATHROOM)
Don't ask.
JACOB steps into the BATHROOM and pulls at his clothes, leaving them in
a pile on the floor. He reaches for the faucet and sends a stream of
water pouding against the porcelain tub. JEZZIE enjoys JACOB's
nakedness. She reaches out to his chest and squeezes one of his
nipples. His body tenses slightly. JEZZIE drops her robe. They enter
the shower together.
EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT
A DENSE RAIN falls on a dark night filling puddles of water. JACOB is
crawling through the underbrush in the Vietnamese JUNGLE. His shirt is
bloodsoaked. He moves slowly, creeping on his right forearm. His left
arm is holding his intestines from spilling onto the grass.
JACOB
Help me. Someone.
Suddenly a flashlight beam can be seen in the distance. It dances
around the bamboo trees and draws closer to JACOB. It is impossible to
see who is carrying it. The light darts near the ground where JACOB is
lying and then bursts directly into his eyes.
INT. JACOB'S APT. - DAY
SUNLIGHT pours through the BEDROOM window. JACOB is sleeping fitfully
as a bar of light saturates his face. His hand rushes up to cover and
protect his eyes but the damage is done. He is awake.
JACOB lies in bed for a few moments, dazed. Slowly his hand gropes
along the shelf at the head of the bed, searching for his glasses. He
has trouble finding them. As his hand sweeps blindly across the
headboard it hits the telephone and sends it crashing to the floor. He
sits up with a disgusted look on his face and searches the out-of-focus
shelf behind him. Suddenly JEZZIE enters.
JEZZIE
You up?
JACOB
No. Have you seen my glasses?
JEZZIE
(shaking her head)
Where'd you leave 'em?
JACOB
I don't know.
JEZZIE
Did you look around the headboard?
JACOB
(wearily)
Jezzie, I can't see.
JEZZIE
(she scans the shelf)
Maybe you left 'em in the bathroom.
She leaves and returns moments later with his glasses and a large paper
bag. She tosses them both onto the bed.
JACOB
Thanks.
(he puts on his glasses
and notices the bag)
What's that?
JEZZIE
Your kid dropped it off.
JACOB
Who? Jed?
JEZZIE
(stooping to pick up the
phone)
No. The little one.
JACOB
Eli. Why can't you remember their
names?
JEZZIE
They're weird names.
JACOB
They're Biblical. They were prophets.
JEZZIE
Well, personally, I never went for
church names.
JACOB
And where do you think Jezebel comes
from?
JEZZIE
I don't let anybody call me that.
JACOB
(shaking his head)
You're a real heathen, you know that,
Jezzie? Jesus, how did I ever get
involved with such a ninny?
JEZZIE
You sold your soul, remember? That's
what you told me.
JACOB
Yeah, but for what?
JEZZIE
A good lay.
JACOB
And look what I got.
JEZZIE
The best.
JACOB
I must have been out of my head.
JEZZIE
Jake, you are never out of your head!
JACOB
(ignoring the criticism
and reaching for the
paper bag)
What's in here?
JEZZIE
Pictures. Your wife was gonna toss
'em so "what's his name" brought 'em
over on his way to school.
JACOB lifts the bag and pours the photographs onto the bed. There are
hundreds of them. He examines them with growing delight.
JACOB
Look at these, will ya? I don't
believe it. Jesus, these are
fantastic. Look, here's my Dad ...
And here's my brother, when we were
down in Florida.
JEZZIE
Lemme see.
JACOB
(rummaging excitedly
through the pile)
Here. Look. This is me and Sarah when
I was still at City College.
JEZZIE
(looking closely)
That's Sarah?
(she studies the photo)
I can see what you mean.
JACOB
What?
JEZZIE
Why you left.
JACOB
What do you mean you can see?
JEZZIE
Look at her face. A real bitch.
JACOB
She looked good then.
JEZZIE
Not to me.
JACOB
Well, you didn't marry her.
He digs through more photos. Suddenly he stops.
JEZZIE
What's wrong?
To JEZZIE's surprise and his own, tears well up in his eyes. For a
moment JACOB is unable to speak. He just stares at one of the photos.
JEZZIE looks at the picture. It is an image of JACOB carrying a small
child on his shoulders.
JEZZIE
Is that the one who died?
JACOB
(nodding)
Gabe.
JEZZIE is silent. JACOB grabs a Kleenex and blows his nose.
JACOB
(continuing)
Sorry. it just took me by surprise. I
didn't expect to see him this morning
... God, what I wouldn't ... He was
the cutest little guy. Like an angel,
you know. He had this smile ...
(choking up again)
Fuck, I don't even remember this
picture.
Hiding his emotions, JACOB scrambles over the bed and reaches for a
pair of pants. He pulls out his wallet and then carefully puts the
photo of GABE inside. It joins photos of his two other boys. JEZZIE
begins shoving the remaining pictures back into the paper bag.
JACOB
Wait. Don't.
JEZZIE
I don't like things that make you
cry.
JACOB
I just want to look ...
He reaches into the pile for other snapshots. We see an array of frozen
moments, happy, unfocused, obscure. Suddenly he stops and stares at a
yellowing snapshot.
JACOB
God, this is me!
(he holds up a baby
photo)
Look. It's dated right after I was
born.
(he stares at it
intently)
What a kid. Cute, huh? So much
promise.
JEZZIE surveys the scene.
JEZZIE
It's amazing, huh Jake? Your whole
life ... right in front of you.
(she pauses before
making her final
pronouncement)
What a mess!
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
JEZZIE carries the garbage to an INCINERATOR ROOM down the hall. She is
carrying several bags. Two of them are tossed instantly down the chute.
She hesitates with the third. After a moment she reaches into it and
pulls out a handful of photos. They are pictures of JACOB and SARAH.
With cool deliberation she drops them down the chute. An apartment door
slams shut. Quickly she disposes of the pictures remaining in her hand.
JACOB opens the door to the tiny room as the bag filled with the
memories of his life falls to the fire below.
JACOB
Ready?
JEZZIE
Just gettin' rid of the garbage.
JACOB and JEZZIE, both wearing postal uniforms, head for the ELEVATOR.
They are surprised that it has arrived promptly. JEZZIE reaches out and
playfully sticks her tongue into JACOB's ear. He pulls her into the
ELEVATOR. They disappear, laughing, behind its closing doors.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - DAY
JACOB is driving a mail truck through the crowded streets of midtown
Manhattan. As he drives he is humming to himself a rendition of Al
Jolson's "Sonny Boy."
JACOB stops his truck in front of a LAUNDRY on West 46th Street. He
opens the back door and pulls a stack of boxes toward him. He lifts
them with effort and slams the door with his foot. It doesn't close. He
considers giving it another whack but the boxes are heavy. He turns
instead and waddles toward the store.
INT. LAUNDRY - DAY
A heavyset WOMAN with a dark tan is standing behind a counter cluttered
with laundry. A picture of Richard Nixon is still stapled to the wall.
She looks at JACOB.
WOMAN
Where do you expect me to put those?
I don't have any room.
She tries clearing the counter, but it doesn't help.
WOMAN
(continuing)
How 'bout over there?
(she points to a table)
No wait. Do me a favor. Bring 'em to
the back room.
JACOB
They're awfully heavy.
WOMAN
I know. That's why I'm asking.
JACOB waddles reluctantly toward the back of the store. CHINESE
LAUNDERERS are hovering over piles of clothes. Steam from the pressing
machines shoots into the air.
JACOB
(huffing and puffing)
Where's Wong?
WOMAN
That's what I'd like to know. If you
see him on the street somewhere, tell
him he's fired.
JACOB stoops to put the boxes on the shelf. There is a snapping sound
and he winces in pain. Massaging his back, JACOB unfolds some papers
for the WOMAN's signature.
JACOB
How was Palm Springs?
WOMAN
Hot. Where do I sign?
JACOB
(pointing to the line)
You got a nice tan, though.
WOMAN
Tan? What tan? It faded on the
airplane. I'd try to get my money
back, but who do you ask?
(she looks heavenward)
Two hundred dollars a night, for
what?
She hands JACOB the wrong sheet.
JACOB
No. I'll take the other one.
(he takes it)
Right. Well it's good to have you
back. See you tomorrow, probably.
WOMAN
If you're lucky.
JACOB smiles to himself as he leaves the store. He walks carefully. His
back is out.
INT. MAIL TRUCK - DAY
ANGLE ON THE MAIL TRUCK stuck in traffic. Nothing is moving. Horns are
blaring and drivers are agitated. JACOB reaches for a newspaper lying
on top of his mail bags. To his shock one of the bags appears to move.
Curious, JACOB pokes at it. Instantly a terrifying figure pops out from
beneath it and stares at him with a frightening glare. JACOB jumps
back, stunned. It is a moment before he realizes that he is looking at
an old WINO who has been sleeping in the truck. The man's face is
covered in strange bumps.
JACOB
Goddamn it! What the hell ... ?
WINO
(pleading)
I didn't take nothin'. I was just
napping. Don't hit me. I was cold.
JACOB
(lifting the man up)
What the hell do you think you're
doing? You can't do this. This is
government property.
He begins opening the door. The WINO begs.
WINO
Don't throw me out. They're gonna get
me. They'll tear me to pieces.
He holds on to JACOB's leg. JACOB tries to pull away.
JACOB
Come on. You can't stay here.
WINO
Please! I never hurt anybody when I
was alive. Believe me. I don't belong
here.
JACOB gives the WINO a strange look and then escorts him from the
truck. A hundred eyes peer out of motionless cars and follow him as he
leads the WINO to the sidewalk. JACOB pulls a dollar bill from his
pocket and places it in the WINO's hand. The OLD MAN crumples it into a
ball and turns away. He has a frightened look on his face. JACOB
returns to the truck shaking his head.
JACOB
New York!
He climbs into his seat and glances into his rear view mirror. He
notices the WINO edging fearfully along the side of a building. A horn
honks and traffic begins moving. When JACOB looks back the WINO is no
longer there.
INT. GARAGE - DAY
JACOB drives his mail truck into the huge POST OFFICE PARKING GARAGE on
34th Street. His mind seems distracted. He has difficulty parking.
INT. POST OFFICE - DAY
We see a vast room filled with hundreds of PEOPLE sorting and moving
mail.
JACOB, carrying a bag of McDonald's hamburgers, walks stiffly through
the aisles, his left hand rubbing his back. Several workers greet him
and grab for his french fries. He offers them around.
ANGLE ON a conveyor belt sorting mail. A hand reaches in, correcting
mistakes. Suddenly a hamburger passes by. JEZZIE looks up and smiles.
JEZZIE
Jake!
JACOB
How's it going?
She takes the hamburger and shrugs.
JACOB
(continuing)
I'm going home.
JEZZIE
What's wrong?
JACOB
I don't know. One of these days, I'm
gonna see Louis. My back's killing
me.
JEZZIE
Now? What about the boss? He's not
gonna like it.
JACOB shrugs.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Well, I'll miss riding home with you.
I was looking forward to it.
JACOB
I'll be glad to avoid the crush.
JEZZIE
I enjoy crushing into you.
She grabs him and hugs him tightly.
JACOB
Gently. My back.
JEZZIE ignores him and squeezes again.
INT. CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE - DAY
CUT ON A SCREAM to JACOB in a CHIROPRACTOR'S OFFICE. He is lying on a
long leather padded device that looks like an instrument of torture.
LOUIS, the Chiropractor, is a giant of a man, 280 pounds. He is
adjusting JACOB's spine.
LOUIS
Come on, Jake. That didn't hurt.
JACOB
How do you know?
LOUIS
I know you. How come you're so tense
today?
JACOB
What can I tell you?
LOUIS
I saw Sarah the other day.
JACOB
Her knee acting up?
LOUIS
A bit.
JACOB
What did she have to say?
LOUIS
Turn on your right side.
(he turns on his left)
How about the other "right?"
(JACOB turns back)
I don't understand you philosphers.
You've got the whole world figured
out but you can't remember the
difference between right and left.
JACOB
I was absent the day they taught that
in school. What did she say?
LOUIS
Who?
JACOB
Sarah.
LOUIS
Not much. She's like you that way.
Two clams. No wonder your marriage
didn't last. Put your hand under your
head. Take a breath and then let it
out.
He makes a rapid adjustment pushing down on JACOB's thigh. JACOB
groans.
LOUIS
(continuing)
Ah, good. Now turn to your left.
JACOB
She talk about the boys?
LOUIS
She says she can't get them new coats
because you haven't sent the alimony
for three months.
JACOB
She told you that?
(he shakes his head)
Did she tell you about the $2,000 I'm
still paying for the orthodontist?
I'll bet she didn't mention that.
LOUIS
She said you were a son of a bitch
and she regrets the day she set eyes
on you.
JACOB
I thought you said she didn't say
much.
LOUIS
She didn't. That's about all she
said. Put your hand up. Good. I think
she still loves you. Take a breath
and let it out.
He makes an adjustment. JACOB screams.
JACOB
Loves me!? She hasn't said a kind
word about me in years!
LOUIS
Right. She doesn't stop talking about
you. You're always on her mind.
That's love, Jake.
JACOB
She hates me, Louis.
LOUIS
You should go back to her.
JACOB
What? She threw me out, remember. She
wanted some professor to carry her
far away from Brooklyn. Only we
didn't make it. She can't forgive me
that she still lives in the same
house she grew up in.
LOUIS
Her problem is that you spent eight
years getting a PhD and then went to
work for the post office.
JACOB
What can I tell you, Louis? After Nam
I didn't want to think anymore. I
decided my brain was too small an
organ to comprehend this chaos.
LOUIS
(looking at JACOB with
affection)
If it was any other brain but yours,
I might agree. Relax, this is going
to be strong.
JACOB
I can't relax.
LOUIS
Wiggle your toes.
JACOB wiggles his toes. At that instant, LOUIS twists JACOB's neck
rapidly. There is a loud cracking sound.
EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT
THERE IS A FLASH OF LIGHT. A MAN rushes at the camera yelling.
MAN
I found one. He's alive.
He shines a flashlight into the lens creating rings and halos.
CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE - DAY
Suddenly LOUIS reappears, a halo effect still visible behind his head.
JACOB
God almighty. What did you do to me?
LOUIS
I had to get in there. A deep
adjustment. Rest a moment and let it
set a bit.
JACOB
I had this weird flash just then.
LOUIS
What?
JACOB
I don't know. I've been having them
recently.
(he thinks a moment,
then changes the
subject)
You know, you look like an angel,
Louis, an overgrown cherub. Anyone
ever tell you that?
LOUIS
Yeah. You. Every time I see you. No
more Errol Flynn, okay? Your back
won't take it. You tell your girl
friend to calm down if she knows
what's good for you.
JACOB
Louis, you're a life saver.
LOUIS
I know.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - EVENING
JACOB is walking down Nostrand Avenue. He is singing to himself and
imitating Al Jolson.
JACOB
When there are gray skies, I don't
mind the gray skies, as long as
there's you ...
He hums. It is near dusk and lights are just coming on. The shop
windows have a particularly garish look about them. The mannequins are
dressed in inexpensive, almost tawdry, clothes and have a pathetic
appearance. A few shops have set up their Christmas decorations.
The ornamentation seems strangely out of place; almost blasphemous.
JACOB passes a street gang standing in the doorway of a local drug
store. They chortle and make taunting sounds.
GIRL
(shaking her tits,
singing)
"Hey, Mr. Postman ... "
JACOB stops and stares at them. To their surprise, he begins to sing
with them. He knows the words. They like that. It is a sweet moment.
JACOB continues walking. He comes to a cross street. The light is
green. He is still singing to himself and does not notice a BLACK CAR
sharging around the corner. The car is moving at full speed, heading
straight toward him. A YOUNG MAN walking a few steps behind yells out.
YOUNG MAN
Look out!
JACOB turns and sees the car. He scoots out of the way but it swerves
in his direction. The YOUNG MAN calls out again.
YOUNG MAN
Jump!
With a huge thrust, JACOB hurls himself onto the curb as the car shoots
by. Two MEN are peering at him from the back seat. They are laughing
like madmen and shaking their heads. They do not look human. JACOB
yells and waves his fist, to no effect. After a moment he turns to
thank the YOUNG MAN whose scream had saved him, but he is gone.
INT. JACOB'S APT. - DUSK
JACOB and JEZZIE are lying in bed. They are a sensual couple and even
in quiet, reflective moments such as this, their positioning is erotic
and stimulating. Both of them are nude. JACOB's hands are clasped
behind his neck and he is staring mournfully at the ceiling. JEZZIE is
lying on her side, her left leg draped across JACOB's pelvis. Her head
is propped up on her right arm while her left hand strokes the bayonet
scar on JACOB's stomach. Neither are talking. Suddenly, out of the
blue, JEZZIE speaks.
JEZZIE
Maybe it's all the pressure, Jake.
The money. Things like that. Or your
wife.
JACOB
Why do you bring her up?
JEZZIE
'Cause she's always on your mind.
JACOB
When was the last time I said a word?
JEZZIE
It has nothin' to do with talkin'.
She pauses for a while, long enough to suppose that the conversation is
over. Then she continues.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Or maybe it's the war.
JACOB closes his eyes.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
It's still there, Jake.
(she points to his
brain)
Even if you never say a word about
it. You can't spend two years in
Vietnam ...
JACOB
(annoyed)
What does that have to do with
anything? Does it explain the
barricaded subway stations? Does it
explain those Godforsaken creatures?
JEZZIE
New York is filled with creatures.
Everywhere. And lots of stations are
closed.
JACOB
They're like demons, Jez.
JEZZIE
Demons, Jake? Come on. They're winos
and bag ladies. Low life. That's all
they are. The streets are crawling
with 'em. Don't make em into
somethin' they're not.
(she rubs his forehead)
It's the pressure, honey. That's all
it is.
JACOB
Those guys tried to kill me tonight.
They were aiming right at me.
JEZZIE
Kids on a joy ride. Happens all the
time.
JACOB
They weren't human!
JEZZIE
Come on. What were they, Jake?
JACOB doesn't answer. He turns over on his stomach. JEZZIE stares at
his naked back and drags her fingernails down to his buttocks. Scratch
marks follow in their wake.
JEZZIE
You still love me?
He does not respond.
INT. JACOB'S KITCHEN - DAY
JACOB and JEZZIE are sitting at the breakfast table. JEZZIE is reading
the National Enquirer and chewing at her lip. Suddenly a drop of blood
forms and falls onto the formica table top. Staring at it for a moment,
she wipes it with her finger and then licks it with her tongue.
JACOB is nursing a cup of coffee and staring out the window at the
housing project across the way. The toaster pops. JEZZIE jumps. She
gets up, butters her toast, and returns to her paper.
JEZZIE
Says here the world's comin' to an
end. The battle of heaven and hell
they call it. Should be quite a show;
fireworks, H-bombs, and everything.
You believe them, Jake?
JACOB doesn't answer.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Me neither ... God, look at this. Two
heads. Only lived two days. A day for
each head. Could you imagine me with
two heads? We'd probably keep each
other up all night - arguing and
whatnot. You wanna see the picture?
He does not respond. JEZZIE gets up and walks over to JACOB. Standing
in front of him she slowly unties her robe and lets it fall apart. She
is naked underneath it. Sensuously she leans forward, unbuttons his
shirt, and strokes his chest. She waits for a response from him, but
there is none. He sits silently, disinterested.
Furious, JEZZIE turns away. Grabbing the vacuum cleaner from the broom
closet she angrily unravels the cord and switches it on. Breasts flash
from beneath her gown as the vacuum roars back and forth across the
floor.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Goddamn you son-of-a-bitch! My
uncle's dogs used to treat me better
than you do. At least they'd lick my
toes once in a while. At least they
showed some fucking interest.
A NEIGHBOR bangs on the wall, shouting.
JEZZIE
All right! All right! All right!
JACOB peers at the courtyard eighteen stories below and watches the
patterns of early morning movement. Tiny figures drift purposefully
over the concrete.
Suddenly the vasuum cleaner goes off. In the silence, JACOB realizes
that JEZZIE is crying and turns to see her curled over the kitchen
table. He walks to her side and strokes her hair. JEZZIE begins to sob.
After a moment she looks at him with puffy eyes.
JEZZIE
You love me?
He nods his head "yes." She smiles coyly and rubs her hair like a
kitten against his crotch. After a few moments she speaks.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Della's party's tonight. Why don't we
go? It'll take your minf offa things.
And I won't make you dance. I
promise. Huh?
(he nods his head in
consent. JEZZIE hugs
him)
You still love me, Jake?
He nods his head again, only heavily, as though the question exhausts
him.
INT. BELLVUE HOSPITAL - DAY
JACOB is in the "Mental Health Clinic" at BELLVUE HOSPITAL walking
through the PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY ROOM. It is overflowing with people.
Some are handcuffed to their chairs. POLICEMEN are with them. JACOB
approaches the main RECEPTION DESK. He speaks nervously.
JACOB
I'd like to speak to Dr. Carlson,
please.
RECEPTIONIST
Carlson? Is he new here?
JACOB
New? He's been here for years.
She shrugs and looks at a log book.
RECEPTIONIST
Not according to my charts. Do you
have an appointment?
JACOB
(shaking his head)
Look, I need to see him. I know where
his room is. Just give me a pass. I
won't be long. Ten minutes.
RECEPTIONIST
Our doctors are seen by appointment
only.
JACOB
Damn it. I was in the veteran's out-
patient program. He knows me.
RECEPTIONIST
(not happy)
What's your name?
JACOB
Jacob Singer.
She walks over to a file drawer and goes through it several times
before coming back over to JACOB.
RECEPTIONIST
I'm sorry but there's no record of a
Jacob Singer in our files.
JACOB
Whataya mean, no record?
RECEPTIONIST
You want me to spell it out? There's
nothing here.
JACOB
That's ridiculous. I've been coming
here for years. Listen to me. I'm
going out of my fucking mind here. I
need to see him.
RECEPTIONIST
If this is an emergency we have a
staff of psychiatric social workers.
There's about an hour's wait. I'll be
glad to take your name. Why don't you
just fill out this form?
JACOB
Goddamn it! I don't want a social
worker. Carlson knows me.
JACOB pounds the desk, rattling a tiny African violet and knocking the
RECEPTIONIST's forms to the floor. She grunts angrily and stoops to
retrieve them. Standing up her cap hits a drawer handle and slips off.
TWO KNUCKLE-LIKE HORNS protrude from her skull where the cap had been.
JACOB's eyes lock on them like radar. He backs away. She immediately
replaces her cap and breaks the spell, but her eyes glare at him with
demonic intensity. JACOB, freaked, angry, turns and runs toward the "In
Patient" door.
RECEPTIONIST
Hey! You can't go in there!
JACOB doesn't stop. A POLICEMAN, guarding the entrance, runs after him.
JACOB charges through the interior corridors of the aging institution.
A LINE OF MENTAL PATIENTS, all holding hands, is moving down the hall.
They break ranks as he charges by and begin to scream. Their ATTENDANT
tries to calm them down but the sight of the POLICEMAN increases their
hysteria. They grab hold of him as he tries to get by.
POLICEMAN
LET GO! GET AWAY!
INT. GROUP ROOM - DAY
JACOB dashes out of view. He runs down another corridor, wildly
searching for a specific room. He finds it and rushes inside. He is
surprised to find A GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN seated in a circle. They all
look up at him.
LEADER
Can I help you?
JACOB
I'm looking for Dr. Carlson. Isn't
this his office?
The LEADER stares at him uncomfortably. After a moment he gets up and
takes JACOB into a corner of the room. Everyone is watching them. The
LEADER speaks quietly.
LEADER
I'm so sorry. Obviously you haven't
... Dr. Carlson died.
JACOB
(stunned)
Died?
LEADER
A car accident.
JACOB
Jesus, Jesus! ... When?
LEADER
Last month, before Thanksgiving.
JACOB
How did it happen?
LEADER
No one knows. They say it blew up.
JACOB
(growing pale)
Blew up? What do you mean it blew up?
The LEADER shrugs and tries to put his arm around JACOB, but he pulls
away.
LEADER
Do you want me to get someone?
JACOB
No. No. It's okay. I'm okay.
He backs quickly to the door. As he turns to leave he realizes that all
of the PEOPLE in the group are watching him intently.
Unsettled, JACOB hurries back into the hallway. He is frightened and
confused. Suddenly a voice calls out.
POLICEMAN
HEY YOU! MAILMAN!
JACOB turns and sees the POLICEMAN waiting for him. His gun is drawn.
POLICEMAN
Hold it. Just hold it. Where the hell
do you think you are? This is
Bellevue, for God's sake. People
running around here get shot.
The GROUP LEADER pokes his head out of the door and motions to the
POLICEMAN.
LEADER
It's alright. He's okay.
POLICEMAN
(nodding, reholstering
his gun)
Come on, get out of here. I wouldn't
want to interfere with the U.S. Mail.
He leads JACOB toward the lobby. JACOB does not look back.
INT. DELLA'S APT. - NIGHT
WE HEAR LOUD DANCE MUSIC. SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE. JACOB is with some
POST OFFICE EMPLOYEES at a crowded party in a small apartment. A DRUNK
is telling a bad joke and trying to hold a glass of wine at the same
time. It is constantly on the verge of spilling. JACOB is fixated on
it. In the background, we see JEZZIE dancing and motioning for JACOB to
join her. He nods no. The DRUNK, who keeps asking people if they "get
it," takes JACOB's head nodding as a sign of confusion and keeps trying
to re-explain the joke.
JACOB hears a strange noise and looks around. It seems to be coming
from a covered bird cage. He goes over to it and lifts the cover. The
BIRD is flapping its wings wildly as if trying to get out. The sound,
loud and insistent, startles him. He lowers the cover.
In the DINING ROOM, several people are gathered around ELSA, an
attractive black woman who is reading palms. She sees JACOB and calls
over the music.
ELSA
Hey, you! Let me look at your hand!
JACOB shrugs. DELLA, dancing nearby, calls out.
DELLA
Go on Jake. She reads 'em like a
book.
JACOB
No, thanks.
DELLA
It's fun.
CUT TO A CLOSE UP OF JACOB'S HAND. ELSA is squeezing the mounds and
examining the lines. What begins as a playful expression on her face
turns suddenly serious. She reaches for his other hand and compares the
two of them. JEZZIE looks over from her dancing and eyes the scene
jealously.
ELSA
You have an unusual hand.
JACOB
I could have told you that.
ELSA
You see this line here? It's your
life line. Here's where you were
born. And this is where you got
married. You're a married man, huh?
Oh oh. Nope. Divorce. See this split.
She studies his life line with growing concern. JEZZIE tries to get
JACOB's attention. He ignores her.
ELSA
(continuing)
You know, you got a strange line
here.
JACOB
(examining it)
It's short, huh?
ELSA
Short? It's ended.
JACOB
(laughing)
Oh, terrific.
ELSA
It's not funny. According to this ...
you're already dead.
JACOB
(smiling)
Just my luck.
CUT TO:
THE DANCERS. Their movements are loose and getting looser. The music is
strong and insistent. The smokey atmosphere disfigures the dancers and
gives them a strange, distorted appearance. Suddenly JEZZIE breaks from
the crowd and reaches for JACOB. He pulls away. Some of the MALE
DANCERS call out to him.
DANCERS
Come on man, show your stuff.
JACOB is easily intimidated. Relenting, he glares at JEZZIE and nods
apologetically to ELSA. It is obvious that he is embarrassed at his
inadequacy on the dance floor.
MAN
Come on professor. You got feet, too.
JACOB tries to smile but it is pained and unconvincing. JEZZIE is
playing with him, mimicking his movement. A number of DANCERS notice
and laugh, which only increases his discomfort. JEZZIE's taunting has a
strange effect on JACOB. He grows distant and withdrawn, even though
his body is still going through the motions of the dance.
A MAN taps JEZZIE on the shoulder. She spins around, smiling, and
begins dancing with him. JACOB is left alone, dancing by himself. He
looks away, uncomfortable.
In the shadows a WOMAN kneels close to the floor. She seems to be
urinating on the carpet. JACOB is shocked. Several DANCERS obscure his
view. He turns around.
A PREGNANT WOMAN stands half naked in the kitchen. JACOB cannot believe
what he sees.
In the next room, past JEZZIE, JACOB glimpses a terrifying image, a MAN
whose head seems to be vibrating at such enormous speed that it has
lost all definition. Something about the image compels and frightens
JACOB. Slowly he approaches it. As he draws nearer to it the tortured
image lets out a scream of such pain and unearthly terror that JACOB
backs away.
A WOMAN, laughing, grabs JACOB, spins him around, and begins dancing
with him. He is totally disoriented.
WOMAN
Hold me, baby!
She takes JACOB's arm and guides it to her back. THE CAMERA follows his
hand as it reaches the smooth skin beneath her sexy, loose fitting
dress. He runs his fingers up to her shoulder blades. Then, suddenly,
he recoils. Her back is a mass of shoulder blades, hundreds of strange,
bony protrusions. JACOB gasps. Out of the blue, JEZZIE leans into him
and wiggles her tongue in his ear. JACOB, startled, jerks his head and
his glasses go flying to the floor.
JACOB
Shit!
He stoops down blindly to pick them up. Shoes just miss his fingers as
he digs between dancing legs trying to recover them. Miraculously, he
grabs the spectacles just before they are crushed and slips them back
on. Instantly his world comes back into focus.
As he stands, JACOB is surprised to find JEZZIE facing him, gyrating in
wild abandon. There is a huge, satisfied smile on her face. She grabs
his hand as if encouraging him to dance but it is obvious that she is
dancing to her own rhythm. JACOB stares at her, confused. It takes him
a moment to realize that her smile is not for him.
Standing behind JEZZIE is another DANCER, his hands around her waist.
They are moving together, locked in erotic embrace. It appears that he
is mounting her from behind. Looking down we see that the DANCER's feet
are deformed. They have a bizarre clubbed appearance and look very much
like hooves. They skid and careen amidst the dancing feet.
Something horrible and winglike flaps behind JEZZIE's back. We cannot
make out what it is, but it elicits a primal terror. Before JACOB can
react, JEZZIE opens her mouth. With a roaring sound, a spiked horn
erupts from her throat. It juts menacingly from between her teeth and
thrusts into the air. A CIRCLE OF DANCERS scream out in excited
approval.
CUT TO JACOB's face as it registers terror and disbelief. He stares at
the DANCERS who are crowding around him. They have become perverse,
corrupt aspects of their normal selves.
JACOB grabs his eyes as though trying to pull the vision from his head
but it won't go away. The music throbs. His actions become spastic,
almost delirious.
JACOB is out of control. His frenzy becomes a kind of exorcism, a
desperate attempt to free himself from his body and his mind. WE MOVE
IN ON HIM as his eyes pass beyond pain. The dark walls of the APARTMENT
fade away.
EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT
Strange faces in infantry helmets appear in the darkness, outlined by a
bright moon that is emerging from behind a cloud. The faces are looking
down and voices are speaking.
VOICE
He's burning up.
VOICE
Total delirium.
VOICE
That's some gash. His guts keep
spilling out.
VOICE
Push 'em back.
JACOB (V.O.)
Help me!
His eyes focus on the moon. Rings of light emenate from it filling the
sky with their sparkling brilliance. The rings draw us forward with a
quickening intensity that grows into exhilarating speed. The rush
causes them to flash stroboscopically and produces a dazzling, almost
sensual, surge of color. The display is spectacular and compelling.
Music can be heard in the distance, growing hard and insistent, like a
heart beat. Heavy breathing accompanies the sound. The stroboscopic
flashes are replaced by intense flashes of red and blue light. The
music grows louder and reaches a thundering crescendo. Then silence.
INT. DELLA'S APT. - NIGHT
The APARTMENT reappears in all its normalcy. The neon sign is still
flashing outside the window. DANCERS are smiling and sweating.
Cheers and applause ring out for JACOB and JEZZIE but JACOB barely
hears them. JEZZIE hugs him tightly. PEOPLE smack him on the back.
ADMIRER
You are out of your mind, man. Out of
your fuckin' mind.
WOMAN
Jake, you little devil. You never
told me you could dance like that.
MAN
Jezzie, what did you put in his
drink?
JEZZIE smiles while pulling JACOB to a corner chair. He plops down. His
chest is heaving and he is grabbing hold of his stomach. Hie face is
frightened and distorted.
JEZZIE
You okay?
JACOB
I wanna leave. Get me out of here.
JEZZIE
Oh, come on. It's early.
JACOB
(pulling JEZZIE close to
him, his voice filled
with paranoia)
Where are we?
JEZZIE
(surprised by the
question)
We're at Della's.
JACOB
Where?
JEZZIE
What do you mean? Where do you think?
JACOB
Where's Della? Bring her here?
JEZZIE
Why? What for?
JACOB
Show me Della!
JEZZIE
(confused)
Hey, I'm here.
JACOB eyes her with a pleading look. Annoyed, JEZZIE leaves JACOB and
crosses the room. He watches her as she goes. JACOB is holding his
stomach and rocking painfully. Moments later JEZZIE returns with DELLA.
DELLA
Hiya Jake. That was some dance.
JACOB
(staring at her closely)
Della?
DELLA
(feeling the
strangeness)
You want to see me? Well, here I am.
JACOB
I see.
DELLA
What do you want?
JACOB
Just to see you. That's all.
DELLA
(a bit uncomfortable)
Well, how do I look?
JACOB
Like Della.
Suddenly JACOB breaks out in a dense sweat and begins shaking. His
entire body is convulsive.
JEZZIE
Are you feeling all right? Shit,
you're burning up. Feel his forehead.
DELLA
(checking his forehead
and cheeks)
Damn, that's hot. Maybe from dancing.
JEZZIE
I think you should lie down.
JACOB is shaking uncontrollably. People are gathering around.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Can't you stop it?
JACOB
If I could stop it, I'd stop it.
WOMAN
Is he sick?
DELLA
He's on fire.
ELSA
Let me help you.
She reaches out to JACOB. Unexpectedly he recoils, jumping to his feet
like a wild man. He begins to scream.
JACOB
Stay away from me! Don't you come
near me! All of you. Go to hell! Go
to hell, goddamn you! Stay away!
JEZZIE stares at JACOB with a confused and embarrassed look. A MAN
whispers to her.
MAN
I'll call a cab.
INT. JACOB'S APT. - NIGHT
JACOB is lying in bed in his own BEDROOM with a thermometer in his
mouth. JEZZIE is pacing the floor with great agitation.
JEZZIE
I've never been so mortified in my
whole life. Never! Screaming like
that. I don't understand what's
gotten into you, Jake, to make you do
a thing like that. You're not acting
normal. I've lived with too many
crazies in my life. I don't want it
anymore. I can't handle it. I'm tired
of men flipping out on me. Shit,
you'd think it was my fault. Well you
picked me, remember that. I don't
need this.
The NEIGHBOR pounds on the wall.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
All right! All right!
JEZZIE jabs her finger at the wall.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
If you go crazy on me you're goin'
crazy by yourself. You understand?
JEZZIE reaches for his mouth and pulls out the thermometer. She looks
at it closely and then squints to see it better.
JACOB
What's it say? A hundred and two?
JEZZIE
I don't believe this. I'm calling the
doctor.
She runs out of the room. JACOB calls after her.
JACOB
What does it say?
JEZZIE (V.O.)
It's gone to the top.
JACOB
How high is that?
JEZZIE (V.O.)
The numbers stop at 107.
JEZZIE is on the phone to the doctor in the next room.
JACOB begins shaking again and reaches for the extra blanket at the
foot of the bed. He pulls it up around his shoulders. The whole bed
vibrates with his shivering. Suddenly JEZZIE rushes through the BEDROOM
and into the BATHROOM. SHe turns on the bath water.
JACOB
What the hell are you doin'?
JEZZIE
Get your clothes off.
JACOB
What are you talking about? I'm
freezing.
JEZZIE
Get your clothes off!
JACOB gives her a confused look as she rushes back to the KITCHEN.
JACOB
What'd the doctor say?
JEZZIE (V.O.)
That you'd die on the way to the
hospital. Now get into that tub.
JACOB stares at her as she bursts back into the BEDROOM carrying four
trays of ice cubes. She hurries into the BATHROOM and dumps them in the
tub.
JEZZIE (V.O.)
He's coming right over.
JACOB
Coming here?
JEZZIE (V.O.)
Goddamn it. Get in here. I can't
stand around waiting.
She rushes out of the BATHROOM and pulls JACOB out of bed. He is
shaking violently and she has difficulty navigating across the room and
undressing him at the same time. She maneuvers him into the BATHROOM
next to the tub. He looks down at the ice cubes floating in the water.
JACOB
You're out of your mind. I'm not
getting in there. I'd rather die.
JEZZIE
That's your decision.
JACOB
Look at me. I'm ice cold.
JEZZIE
You're red hot, damn it. Get in
there. I've got to get more ice.
She runs out of the room. The door to the apartment slams shut. JACOB
sticks his toe into the water and pulls it out again instantly.
JACOB
Oh Jesus!
He sticks his whole foot in and grits his teeth as the ice cold water
turns his foot bright red. He keeps it in as long as he can and then
yanks it out, quickly wrapping it in a towel. JACOB rubs his foot
vigorously to get rid of the sting and stares at the water, afraid of
its pain.
INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT
JEZZIE is running up and down the CORRIDOR knocking on doors and
collecting ice cubes from those who will answer. She hurries back to
the BATHROOM with several PEOPLE behind her carrying additional ice
trays. One of the MEN is shifting the trays in his hands to avoid the
burning cold.
INT. JACOB'S BATHROOM
As JEZZIE enters the BATHROOM, JACOB is sitting on the rim of the tub
with the water up to his calves, shivering vigorously.
JACOB
I can't do it.
JEZZIE
What kind of man are you?
She unloads two trays into the water.
JACOB
Don't gimme that.
JEZZIE
Lie down!
JACOB
(pleading)
Jezzie! My feet are throbbing!
JEZZIE
(calling out)
Sam, Tony, come in here.
JACOB
Hey, I'm not dressed.
SAM
You got nothin' we ain't seen before.
SAM and TONY grab hold of JACOB who wrestles to get away.
JACOB
Get the hell off me.
TONY
He's like a hot coal.
SAM
It's for your own good, Jake.
JACOB
Let go of me, you sons of bitches.
The TWO MEN struggle with JACOB and force him into the water. TONY
winces when the water hits his arm. JACOB nearly flies out of the tub.
The TWO MEN fight to hold him down. JACOB screams and cries for the MEN
to let him go but they keep him flat on his back.
JACOB
(continuing)
I'm freezing! I'm freezing! Goddamn
you!
TONY
(his hand turning red)
Sam, I can't take it.
SAM
Don't you let go.
TONY
Jez, get help. My hands are killing
me.
JACOB
Help me! Help me!
JEZZIE
(to TONY)
Here. I'll do it.
TONY
Take his legs.
SAM
Run your hands under hot water.
MRS. CARMICHAEL comes in.
MRS. CARMICHAEL
I have some ice from the machine.
JEZZIE
Bring it in.
MRS. CARMICHAEL
Is he all right?
JEZZIE
He doesn't like it.
MRS. CARMICHAEL
I don't blame him. What should I do
with the ice?
JEZZIE
Pour it in.
MRS. CARMICHAEL
On top of him?
JEZZIE
He's melting it as fast as we dump it
in.
MRS. CARMICHAEL
Okay. My husband's got two more bags.
He's coming. They're heavy.
TONY helps her pour the ice into the water. JACOB yells.
JACOB
Oh God! You're killing me! Stop!
INT. A BEDROOM - NIGHT
CUT TO JACOB lying in a BEDROOM we have not seen before. He is tossing
and turning in his bed as though struggling to get out. Suddenly he
sits up and looks over at the window. It is open and the shade is
flapping. Cold air is blowing in and he is shivering.
JACOB
Damn! You and your fresh air.
He jumps out of bed and goes over to the window. He pushes at the frame
and it comes flying down with a loud bang. A woman in the bed sits up.
It is SARAH.
SARAH
What was that?
JACOB
It's freezing.
SARAH
I'm not cold.
JACOB
Of course not. You have all the
blankets. It must be ten degrees in
here. I'm telling you, Sarah, if you
want to sleep with fresh air, you
sleep on the fire escape. From now on
that window is closed.
SARAH
It's not healthy with it closed.
JACOB
This is healthy? I'll probably die of
pneumonia tomorrow and this is
healthy.
He settles back into bed and pulls the covers back over to his side. He
lies quietly for a moment, thinking.
JACOB
(continuing)
What a dream I was having. I was
living with another woman ... You
know who it was?
SARAH
I don't want to know.
JACOB
Jezebel, from the post office. You
remember, you met her that time at
the Christmas party. I was living
with her. God, it was a nightmare.
There were all these demons and I was
on fire. Only I was burning from ice.
SARAH
Guilty thoughts. See what happens
when you cheat on me, even in your
mind?
JACOB
She was good in bed, though.
SARAH
Go to sleep.
JACOB
She had these real beefy thighs.
Delicious.
SARAH
I thought you said it was a
nightmare?
Suddenly, out of nowhere, we hear the tinkling sound of a music box. A
YOUNG BOY enters the room, carrying a musical LUNCH BOX in his arms. He
is wearing a long T-shirt nearly down to his ankles. We recognize him
from his photograph. It is GABE.
GABE
Daddy, what was that noise?
JACOB
(surprised to see him)
Gabe?
(he stares curiously at
his son)
What are you doing ... ?
GABE
There was a bang.
JACOB
It was the window.
GABE
It's cold.
JACOB
Tell your mother.
GABE
Mom, it's ...
SARAH
I heard you. Go back to sleep.
GABE
Will you tuck me in?
SARAH
(not happily)
Oh ... all right.
She starts to rise. JACOB stops her and gets up instead. He whisks GABE
upside down and carries him into his
GABE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
BEDROOM, licking his belly and tickling him all the way. GABE laughs
and snuggles into his pillow as soon as he hits the bed. JED, 9, and
ELI, 7, are both in bunk beds across the room. JED looks up.
JED
Dad?
JACOB
Jed. It's the middle of the night.
(he kisses GABE and goes
over to JED in the lower
bunk)
What's up?
JED
You forgot my allowance.
JACOB
Your allowance? It's five A.M. We'll
talk at breakfast.
JED
Okay, but don't forget.
Suddenly another voice pipes in from the top bunk.
ELI
I love you, Dad.
JACOB smiles.
JACOB
What is this, a convention? I love
you, too, Pickles. Now go back to
sleep.
He turns to leave.
GABE
Wait ... Daddy.
JACOB
Now what?
GABE
Don't go.
JACOB
Don't go?
(he smiles)
I'm not going anywhere. I'm right
here, Gabe.
(he looks at his son
tenderly)
Come on, go back to sleep. You can
still get a couple of hours.
He hugs him warmly and then walks to the door.
GABE
... I love you.
There is deep emotion and seriousness in GABE's words. JACOB is struck
by them.
GABE
(continuing)
Don't shut the door.
JACOB nods and leaves it a tiny bit ajar.
GABE
(continuing)
A bit more ... a bit more.
JACOB adjusts the opening enough to please GABE and make him secure.
GABE smiles and cuddles in his bed.
INT. SARAH'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
JACOB settles back into bed. SARAH turns over and gets comfortable.
JACOB lies on his back facing the ceiling. He pulls the blankets up to
his neck. He is overcome with feelings of sadness and longing.
JACOB
I love you, Sarah.
She smiles warmly. His eyes close and in a matter of seconds he is back
asleep.
EXT. VIETNAM - PRE DAWN
WE HEAR SUMMER MORNING SOUNDS, CRICKETS and BIRDS. The image of trees
materializes overhead and a beautiful pink sky, just before sunrise,
can be seen through the branches. It is an idyllic setting.
Suddenly a strange sound can be heard in the distance, a metallic
humming, growing louder. There is a scramble of feet and a sound of
heavy boots moving through the tall grass. Voices can be heard. Men's
voices.
VOICE
They're here.
VOICE
Thank God. Move 'em out!
VOICES
Bust your balls!
VOICE
Move it! Move it!
There is an instant swell of activity. Trees and branches blur and
speed by overhead. The idyllic image of moments before reveals itself
as a P.O.V. SHOT. The CAMERA races out of a JUNGLE covering and into a
huge CLEARING.
High overhead a helicopter appears. Its blades whirl with a deafening
whine. Long lines drop from its belly and dangle in mid-air. SOLDIERS
leap up into the air reaching for them. The air is filled with
turbulence. Tarps fly off dead bodies. SOLDIERS hold them down. Voices
yell but the words are not clear. They are filled with urgency.
The CAMERA leaves the ground. The edges of the sky disappear as the
helicopter's gray mass fills the frame. It grows larger and darker as
the CAMERA approaches. Rivets and insignias dotting the underbelly come
into view. Suddenly the stretcher begins spinning, out of control.
Hands emerge from inside, reaching out to grab it.
Watery, womb-like sounds rise out of nowhere, the rippling of water, a
heart beating. Gradually voices can be heard mumbling; distant sounds,
warm and familiar.
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
JACOB's DOCTOR reaches down to help him out of the tub. Surprisingly
JEZZIE and MRS. CARMICHAEL are standing there too. JACOB stares at them
in total confusion.
DOCTOR
You are a lucky man, my friend. A
lucky man. You must have friends in
high places, that's all I can say.
SAM and TONY appear next to the DOCTOR. They are extending their hands
to the P.O.V. CAMERA. JACOB'S arms, nearly blue, reach out to them.
Slowly they lift him from the icy water. JACOB takes one step onto the
tile and collapses to the floor.
CUT TO BLACK:
INT. JACOB'S BEDROOM - DAY
FADE IN sounds of feet shuffling across the carpet. A glass rattles on
a tray. A television is on low in the background. Slowly the CAMERA
LENS opens from JACOB's P.O.V. and we see JEZZIE puttering around the
BEDROOM. Suddenly she is aware that JACOB is watching her. She smiles.
JEZZIE
Jake.
(she places her hand on
his head and strokes his
hair)
You're gonna be all right, Jake.
You're gonna be fine.
JACOB
Am I home?
JEZZIE
You're here. Home. The doctor said
you're lucky your brains didn't boil.
(she smiles)
What a night, Jake. It was crazy. You
kept sayin' "Sarah, close the
window," over and over. And talkin'
to your kids. Even the dead one.
Weird. You know you melted 200 pounds
of ice in 8 hours. Amazing, huh?
JACOB
Are we in Brooklyn?
JEZZIE
You're right here, Jake. You just
rest.
(she puffs up his
pillow)
The doctor said you had a virus.
That's what they say when they don't
know what it is. You can't do
anything for a week. He says you
gotta recuperate.
(she strokes his
forehead, and gets up)
Now you just lie here. Mrs. Sandelman
made you some chicken soup. It'll
warm you up.
JEZZIE leaves the room. JACOB watches her as she goes. He seems lost
and confused.
INT. JACOB'S KITCHEN - DAY
JACOB, unshaven, wearing his bathrobe, is sitting at the KITCHEN TABLE.
PILES OF BOOKS on demonology are spread out before him. He studies them
to distraction. JEZZIE is standing by the counter making sandwiches.
She wraps them in plastic Baggies and puts one in a lunch box, another
in the refrigerator. She is dressed in her postal uniform.
JEZZIE
You know, you really ought to get out
today. You can't just sit around like
this all the time. It's not healthy.
It's not good for your mind. Go take
a walk, or somethin'. Go to a movie.
Christ, who's gonna know? You think I
care? I don't give a shit. Go. Enjoy
yourself. One of us should be having
a good time.
(JEZZIE knocks on
JACOB's head)
Hello! Anybody home?
(she looks in his ear)
Anybody in there?
JACOB
What?
JEZZIE just stares at him. She does not respond. JACOB returns to his
books.
CUT TO CLOSE UP IMAGES OF WINGED DEMONS, real demons, with spindly
horns and long tails. JACOB's huge finger, magnified, scans page after
page of ancient images and archaic text. JEZZIE, enraged at his lack of
attention, returns to packing her lunch box. Suddenly she spins around.
JEZZIE
Goddamn it! I can't stand it anymore.
I've had it up to here. Go ahead and
rot if you want ... You son-of-a-
bitch, I'm talking to you.
CUT BACK to the DEMONS. Suddenly a crashing sound catches JACOB's
attention as a KITCHEN POT flies by his head. He looks up to see JEZZIE
knocking pots and pans off the kitchen counter and kicking them wildly
across the room. The noise is terrible. The intensity of her rage is
shocking. The pots crash into every surface, knocking all his books
onto the floor. And then, suddenly, she stops.
JEZZIE stoops down to the floor and picks up her sandwich, stuffs it
back in its plastic Baggie, and puts it back in her lunch box. She is
about to leave when she stops and looks at JACOB.
JEZZIE
(continuing, her anger
in check)
I made you a tuna fish sandwich. It's
in the fridge. Eat a carrot with it.
The aspirin's on the bottom shelf.
We're out of soap so, if for some
reason you decide to wash yourself
again, use the dishwashing stuff.
(she walks out of the
room and returns with
her coat)
I'm sorry I yelled, but you get on my
nerves.
(she bends down and
makes eye contact with
JACOB)
Hello? Listen, I gotta go.
JEZZIE sits on his lap, gives him a big kiss, and then, unexpectedly,
raises two fingers, like horns, over her head. The gesture catches
JACOB's full attention.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Look, I'm horny. Keep it in mind.
(she kisses his cheek)
Love me a little?
JACOB
(speaking with
affection)
You are the most unbelievable woman I
have ever met. One second you're a
screaming banshee and the next you're
Florence Nightingale. Who are you?
That's what I want to know. Will the
real Jezzie Pipkin please stand up.
Suddenly the telephone rings. It startles them.
JEZZIE
Oh shit. Tell 'em I've left.
JEZZIE grabs her jacket and shoves her arm in it upside down. A
pocketful of change falls on the floor. JACOB smiles. JEZZIE curses as
she struggles to pick it up and get the jacket on right. JACOB gets the
phone.
JACOB
Hello.
PAUL (V.O.)
Jacob Singer?
JACOB
Speaking.
PAUL (V.O.)
Paul Gruneger!
JACOB
Paul Gruneger! Well I'll be
goddamned!
JACOB indicates it's for him. JEZZIE throws him a kiss goodbye and
hurries out the door.
JACOB
(continuing)
Paul! You son-of-a-bitch, how the
hell are you? I haven't seen you in
what, five, six, years?
PAUL (V.O.)
A long time.
JACOB
Jesus Christ. How've you been? What's
happening in your life?
PAUL (V.O.)
Nothin' much.
JACOB
Me neither. Nothing too exciting. So
tell me, to what do I owe the honor?
PAUL (V.O.)
I need to see you, Jake.
JACOB
Shit, Paul. I'd love to see you. But
I'm kind of laid up here. I've been
sick.
PAUL (V.O.)
I need to see you.
INT. PAUL'S CAR - DAY
JACOB and PAUL are driving through EAST NEW YORK heading toward
WILLIAMSBURG. The elevated trains rumble above them. JACOB pats PAUL on
the back.
JACOB
Jesus, man, you look terrific. You
must have put on twenty pounds.
PAUL
I work in a bakery.
JACOB
You're lucky. How many vets you know
are even employed?
PAUL
Count 'em on one hand.
JACOB
It's almost like a conspiracy, huh?
PAUL
No joke. Fuckin' army! That goddamn
war. I'm still fightin' it.
JACOB
It's not worth it. You'll never win.
PAUL
You tellin' me? How many times can
you die, huh?
PAUL looks in his rear view mirror before changing lanes. He sees a
black car tagging close behind him. He pulls out. So does the car.
PAUL
(continuing)
Still married, Jake?
JACOB
Nope.
PAUL
You and everybody else. God I hate
this area. Makes me nervous.
JACOB
Why the hell we drivin' here?
PAUL
I just need to talk.
JACOB
You can't talk in Brownsville?
PAUL
I'm not sure where I can talk
anymore.
JACOB
What's wrong?
PAUL
Let's get a couple drinks, okay?
(he looks at his rear
view mirror)
Hey, take a look behind us. Do you
think that car is followin' us?
JACOB
(turning to look)
That black car?
PAUL
Pull the mirror down on the sun
visor.
(JACOB does)
Just watch 'em.
JACOB
What's goin' on Paul?
PAUL
I don't know.
JACOB
You in trouble?
PAUL
Yeah.
JACOB notices PAUL's left arm. It is shaking. The black car passes on
the left. Both PAUL and JACOB stare at it as it speeds by.
INT. BAR - DAY
JACOB and PAUL are sitting in a dark booth in an obscure WILLIAMSBURG
BAR. It is nearly empty. PAUL is leaning across the table in a very
intimate fashion.
PAUL
Somethin's wrong, Jake. I don't know
what it is but I can't talk to
anybody about it. I figured I could
with you. You always used to listen,
you know?
JACOB nods. PAUL takes a sip of his drink and stares deliberately into
JACOB's eyes.
PAUL
(continuing)
I'm going to Hell!
JACOB's face grows suddenly tense.
PAUL
(continuing)
That's as straight as I can put it.
And don't tell me that I'm crazy
'cause I know I'm not. I'm goin' to
Hell. They're comin' after me.
JACOB
(frightened, but holding
back)
Who is?
PAUL
They've been followin' me. They're
comin' outta the walls. I don't trust
anyone. I'm not even sure I trust
you. But I gotta talk to someone. I'm
gonna fly outta my fuckin' mind.
PAUL cannot contain his fear. He jumps up suddenly and walks away from
the booth. JACOB follows him with his eyes but does not go after him. A
YOUNG MAN in the next booth observes the scene with interest. He looks
vaguely familiar, like we have seen him before.
PAUL stares out the window for a moment and then walks over to the juke
box. He pulls a quarter out of his pocket and drops it in the slot. His
finger pushes a selection at random. Some '60's rock hit blares out.
JACOB's mind is reeling by the time PAUL sits back down.
PAUL
(continuing)
Sorry. Sometimes I think I'm just
gonna jump outta my skin. They're
just drivin' me wild.
JACOB
Who, Paul? What exactly ... ?
PAUL
I don't know who they are, or what
they are. But they're gonna get me
and I'm scared, Jake. I'm so scared I
can't do anything. I can't go to my
sisters. I can't even go home.
JACOB
Why not?
PAUL
They're waitin' for me, that's why.
PAUL's hand starts to shake. The tremor spreads rapidly to his whole
body. The booth begins to rattle.
PAUL
(continuing)
I can't stop it. I try. Oh God! Help
me Jake.
JACOB slides quickly out of his side of the booth and moves in toward
PAUL. He puts his arm around him and holds him tightly, offering
comfort as best he can.
PAUL is obviously terrified and grateful for JACOB's gesture. A few
PEOPLE at the bar look over in their direction.
JACOB
It's okay, Paul. It's okay.
PAUL
(crying)
I don't know what to do.
JACOB
Don't do anything.
(PAUL begins to relax a
bit and the shaking
subsides)
Paul, I know what you're talking
about.
PAUL
What do you mean?
JACOB
I've seen them too ... the demons!
PAUL
(staring at JACOB)
You've seen them?
JACOB
Everywhere, like a plague.
PAUL
God almighty. I thought I was the
only one.
JACOB
Me, too. I had no idea. It's like I
was coming apart at the seams.
PAUL
Oh God. I know. I know.
JACOB
What is it Paul? What's happening to
me?
PAUL
They keep telling me I'm already
dead, that they're gonna tear me
apart, piece by piece, and throw me
into the fire.
(he fumbles in his coat
pocket and pulls out a
small Bible and silver
cross)
I carry these everywhere but they
don't help. Nothing helps. Everyone
thinks I'm crazy. My mother filed a
report with the army.
JACOB
(stunned)
The army?
PAUL
She said I haven't been the same
since then. Since that night. There's
still this big hole in my brain. It's
so dark in there, Jake. And these
creatures. It's like they're crawling
out of my brain. What happened that
night? Why won't they tell us?
JACOB
I don't know. I don't know.
PAUL
They're monsters, Jake. We're both
seein' 'em. There's gotta be a
connection. Something.
JACOB leans back in the booth, his mind racing. The YOUNG MAN in the
next booth is watching them with rapt attention.
INT. MEN'S ROOM - DAY
PAUL and JACOB are in the MEN'S ROOM. PAUL flushes the urinal.
PAUL
I'm afraid to go by myself anymore. I
keep thinkin' one of 'em's gonna come
up behind me. Somethin's wrong when a
guy can't even take a leak by
himself. I've seen 'em take people
right off the street. I used to go
home a different way every night. Now
I can't even go home.
JACOB
You come home with me.
PAUL
What about your girlfriend? You don't
think she'll mind?
JACOB
Are you kidding? We've put up more of
her cousins. You wouldn't believe how
they breed down there.
PAUL smiles.
EXT. BAR - DAY
The TWO MEN leave the bar on a dingy side street. It is cold outside.
Christmas lights seem ludicrous dangling in the bar's front window.
PAUL looks at them and smiles.
PAUL
Merry Christmas.
PAUL steps into the street and walks to the driver's side of his car.
He pulls out his keys and opens the door. JACOB looks down on the
sidewalk and notices a dime.
JACOB
Goddamn, this is my lucky day.
He bends down to pick it up. PAUL inserts the key into the ignition and
steps on the gas. He turns the key.
THE CAR EXPLODES. Pieces of metal and flesh fly into the air. JACOB
sprawls out flat on the ground as the debris hurls above him. He covers
his head.
EXT. VIETNAM
CUT TO A HELICOPTER suffering an air bombardment. Flack is exploding
all around it and the shock waves are rocking the craft violently.
JACOB's eyes peer to the left.
INFANTRY GUNNERS are firing rockets into the JUNGLE below. A pair of
MEDICS are huddled over him. A sudden gush of arterial bleeding sends a
stream of blood splattering over the inside of the windshield. The
PILOT, unable to see, clears it away with his hands.
JACOB screams over the roar of the chopper. One of the MEDICS presses
his ear close to JACOB to hear.
JACOB
Help me!
MEDIC
We're doing the best we can.
JACOB
Get me out of here!
EXT. BAR - DAY
THE YOUNG MAN from the bar grabs JACOB under the arms and drags him
down the sidewalk.
YOUNG MAN
Just hold on.
JACOB
Where am I? Who are you?
The YOUNG MAN yanks JACOB around the corner just as another explosion
consumes the car. The air is filled with flames and flying debris. The
YOUNG MAN pulls JACOB into the bar.
YOUNG MAN
Just lie still. You're okay. You're
not hurt.
The CUSTOMERS are in a state of bedlam. Part of the wall has blown
apart and bricks and glass are everywhere. The cross from around PAUL's
neck is buried in the debris. Sirens are heard in the distance. A BLACK
CAR speeds off down the street. JACOB looks for the YOUNG MAN who had
helped him. He is gone.
EXT. FUNERAL PROCESSION - DAY
A FUNERAL PROCESSION heads down Ocean Parkway.
INT. JACOB'S CAR - DAY
JACOB and JEZZIE are driving in an old Chevy Nova. They are dressed up.
JACOB's face is bruised and he has a gauze pad over his ear. They drive
in silence. JACOB appears very sad. Slowly his right hand reaches
across the seat, seeking JEZZIE's. Their fingers embrace.
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
The FUNERAL PROCESSION enters the CEMETERY. Cars park along the length
of the narrow road. MEN IN DARK SUITS emerge from their cars along with
WIVES and GIRLFRIENDS.
They are the SOLDIERS we have seen at the opening of the film, only
they are older now. A small group of FAMILY MEMBERS are helped to the
graveside.
JACOB joins the other VETERANS as pallbearers. They carry the casket in
semi-military formation to the grave.
INT. PAUL'S LIVING ROOM - DAY
JACOB'S OLD ARMY BUDDIES are sitting together in Paul's living room,
talking. PAUL'S WIFE can be seen in the BEDROOM. Several WOMEN are
comforting her.
JEZZIE is talking to a small group of LADIES in the DINING ROOM and
nibbling off a tray of cold cuts. PAUL'S SISTER is with her and they
seem to be having a lively, almost intimate, conversation.
JACOB and his BUDDIES are drinking beer. They all have a tired,
defeated look about them.
FRANK
Did anyone see the police report? It
sounds like a detonation job to me.
JERRY
The paper said it was electrical; a
freak accident.
ROD
Bullshit. Someone's covering
somethin'. That was no accident.
GEORGE
Why do you say that?
ROD
Cars don't explode that way. Any
simpleton knows that.
GEORGE
But the paper ...
ROD
That was set. I'm tellin' you.
DOUG
By who? Why? Paul didn't have an
enemy in the world.
JERRY
How do you know?
DOUG
Hey, you're talkin' about Paul. Who'd
want to hurt him?
FRANK
What did he talk about when you guys
went out? Did he say anything?
JACOB
He was upset. He thought people were
following him.
JERRY
You're kidding. Who?
JACOB
He didn't know ... Demons.
GEORGE
(obviously struck by the
word)
What do you mean, demons?
JACOB
He told me he was going to Hell.
The statement has a surprising impact on the group. There is immediate
silence and eyes averted from one another.
ROD
What'd he say that for? What made him
say that? Strange, huh? Strange.
GEORGE
What else did he say, Jake?
JACOB
He was scared. He saw these creatures
coming out of the woodwork. They were
tryin' to get him, he said.
GEORGE
(his arm shaking)
How long had that been going on?
JACOB
A couple of weeks, I think.
He notices GEORGE's beer can rattling.
GEORGE
He say what they looked like?
JACOB
No. Not really ...
GEORGE
Excuse me a minute. I'll be right
back.
ROD
In one end, out the other, huh
George?
GEORGE tries to smile as he hurries to the bathroom. His arm is nearly
out of control and beer is spilling on the carpet as he walks.
ROD
(continuing)
Still a spastic, huh? I hope you can
hold your dick better than you hold
that can.
No one laughs. There is an uncomfortable silence.
EXT. A BACK ALLEY - DAY
The SIX MEN are walking quietly through an unpaved alley. It is already
gray and getting darker.
DOUG
I know what Paul was talking about. I
don't know how to say this ... but in
a way it's a relief knowing that
someone else saw them, too.
ROD
You're seeing ... ?
DOUG
They're not human, I'll tell you
that. A car tried to run over me the
other day. It was aiming straight for
me. I saw their faces. They weren't
from Brooklyn.
ROD
What are you tellin' me? They're from
the Bronx?
DOUG
It was no joke, Rod.
JERRY
Something weird is going on here.
What is it about us? Even in Nam it
was always weird. Are we all crazy or
something?
DOUG
Yeah, ever since that ...
He hesitates. They all understand.
ROD
What's that have to do with anything?
FRANK
It was bad grass. That's all it was.
JERRY
Grass never did that to me.
DOUG
You know, I've been to three shrinks
and a hypnotist. Nothing penetrates
that night. Nothing.
ROD
It's not worth goin' over again and
again. Whatever happened, happened.
It's over.
JACOB
... I've seen them, too.
ROD
Shit!
JERRY
So have I.
JACOB
Look, there's something fucking
strange going on here. You know
Paul's not the only one who's died.
You remember Dr. Carlson over at
Bellevue? His car blew up, too.
ROD
Dr. Carlson's dead?
JACOB
An explosion, just like Paul's.
JERRY
No!
FRANK
Jesus!
GEORGE
You think they're connected?
JACOB
(he nods)
I think something's fucking connect-
ed. I mean, a car tried to run me
over the other day. Doug too, right?
We've got six guys here going fucking
crazy.
ROD
Not me, buddy.
JACOB
Okay, not you Rod. But the rest of us
are flipping out for some goddamn
reason. They're tryin' to kill us.
Fuck it man, we need to find out
what's going on.
DOUG
Do you think it has something to do
with ... the offensive?
JACOB
It's got something to do with some-
thing. I think we've got to confront
the army. If they're hiding shit from
us, we better find out what it is.
ROD
Come on, Professor. The army's not
gonna give you any answers. You'll be
buttin' your head against a stone
wall.
JACOB
Maybe that's the only way to get
through. Besides, six heads'll be
better than one.
ROD
Not my head, buddy. Not me. I'm
gettin' a headache just listenin' to
you.
JACOB
We should get ourselves a lawyer.
ROD
I say you should get a shrink.
DOUG
Too late. I've tried. I think you're
right, Jake. I'm game.
JERRY
Me, too.
ROD
You guys are fucking paranoid. It was
bad grass. That's all it was. There's
no such thing as demons.
INT. LAW OFFICE - DAY
JACOB, FRANK, JERRY, GEORGE, DOUG, and ROD are sitting on plush chairs
in the LAW OFFICE of DONALD GEARY. GEARY, a red-faced man with three
chins, is sucking on an ice cube. He looks at each of the men, and then
spits the ice cube into an empty glass. It clinks.
GEARY
I'm sorry, Mr. Singer, but do you
have any idea how many people come to
me with the injustices of the world?
It'd break your heart.
JACOB
This isn't injustice, Mr. Geary. The
army did something to us and we've
got to find out what.
GEARY
The army. The army. What is it with
you guys? We're not talking about a
trip to the library here. This is the
United States Government for God's
sake. This is red tape coming out of
your ass. You know what I mean?
JACOB
Exactly. And we need someone to cut
through it. We hear you're the man.
GEARY
Oh yeah? What am I - Perry Mason
here?
GEARY stands up and grabs a bag of Cheetos from a file drawer. He
chomps down a few and offers the bag to the others. There are no
takers. Thirsty, he downs the ice cube and cracks it between his teeth.
GEARY
(continuing)
Okay. I'll look into it.
The MEN are surprised and excited.
PAUL
Wow! Do you think we have a chance?
GEARY
What do you want, a fortune teller or
a lawyer? ... I'll need sworn
depositions from each of you and a
list of the other members of the
platoon, or their survivors.
DOUG
Hey, this is great.
GEARY
I'll tell you, if we find the
military is implicated in any way,
you could stand to recover quite a
lot of money. Not that I can predict
anything, but some class action suits
of this kind have been awarded fairly
generous judgements. That wouldn't be
so bad, would it Mr. Singer?
JACOB
Doctor.
(GEARY looks at him
oddly)
Ph.D.
GEARY
Ah! I thought you were a mailman.
JACOB
I am.
GEARY
(confused)
Then why aren't you teaching? Why
aren't you in a university?
JACOB
I'm too messed up to teach.
GEARY
(smiling)
Ah! Well then, they're going to have
to pay for that, aren't they?
The MEN all nod in agreement.
EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
JACOB and the others exit the OFFICE BUILDING. They are jubilant,
clasping hands and smacking each other on the back. We watch as they
break up. JACOB heads for the subway. FRANK and another group hop a
cab. As the cab pulls away we notice that a black car pulls out behind
it. It follows them out of sight.
INT. JACOB'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
JACOB and JEZZIE are making wild and unadulterated love on the kitchen
floor. The wastebasket flips over. JACOB's hand splashes into the dog's
bowl. Nothing impedes their passion. JEZZIE laughs, hollers, and
swoons. Hands grab hold of table legs. Chairs topple. Feet bang wildly
against the stove. It is all mayhem and ecstacy. And then it ends.
JACOB's face is ecstatic. He can barely talk and simply basks in
JEZZIE's glow. She looks especially lovely and radiant. They lie
exhausted and exhilarated on the linoleum floor.
JEZZIE
So tell me ... am I still an angel?
JACOB
(smiling broadly)
With wings. You transport me, you
know that? You carry me away.
JEZZIE kisses him softly around his face and gently probes his ear with
her pinky. JACOB loves it.
JEZZIE
We're all angels, you know ...
(she bites his earlobe.
He winces)
... and devils. It's just what you
choose to see.
JACOB
I love you, Jez.
JEZZIE
I know.
JACOB
Underneath all the bullshit, just
love.
JEZZIE
Remember that.
JACOB
You know what? I feel ... exorcised
... like the demons are gone.
JEZZIE
How come? The army?
JACOB
In a way. At least now I have some
idea of what was happening. If we can
only get them to admit ... to explain
what they did ... I don't know. Maybe
it'd clear things up in my head. I'll
tell you something, Jez, honestly
... I thought they were real.
Silence. Suddenly JEZZIE roars like a monster and scares JACOB half to
death. They laugh and tumble back to the floor.
INT. JACOB'S APT. - EVENING
JACOB emerges from the bathroom shower and pulls on a robe. JEZZIE is
moving rapidly around the KITCHEN.
JEZZIE
I put a frozen dinner in the oven, a
Manhandler. It'll be ready at a
quarter of. I threw a little salad
together. It's in the fridge. I also
bought some apple juice, Red Cheek.
Don't drink it all. Oh, and Jake,
your lawyer called.
JACOB
He did? When?
JEZZIE
(grabbing her coat)
While you were in the shower.
JACOB
Why didn't you call me?
JEZZIE
He didn't give me a chance.
(she pauses nervously)
Look, honey, don't get upset, but
he's not taking your case.
JACOB
(stunned)
What? What do you mean?
JEZZIE
He said you didn't have one.
JACOB
What's he talking about?
JEZZIE
I don't know. That's all he said. He
wasn't very friendly. Oh, yeah. He
said your buddies backed down. They
chickened out, he said.
JACOB
I don't believe this.
JEZZIE
Baby, I'm sorry. I feel terrible. I'd
stay and talk but I'm so late. Look,
don't be upset. We'll talk when I get
home. See you around midnight.
(she kisses him on the
cheek)
Bye. And don't brood. Watch T.V. or
something.
JACOB'S APT./FRANK'S APT. - INTERCUT
The door slams securely. The locks set. JACOB begins instantly rifling
through a desk drawer. He comes up with a frayed address book and looks
up a number. He dials.
FRANK (V.O.)
Hello.
JACOB
Frank. It's Jake. Jacob SInger.
We see FRANK standing at a window fingering the Venetian blinds. He
does not reply. The scene intercuts between the two men.
JACOB
(continuing)
Listen, I just got a strange call
from Geary. He said the guys backed
down. What's he talking about?
FRANK
(fingering the Venetian
blinds)
That's right. We did.
JACOB
What does that mean, Frank? I don't
get it. Why?
FRANK
It's hard to explain.
JACOB
(angry)
Well, try, huh.
FRANK
I don't know if I can. It's just that
war is war. Things happen.
JACOB
Things happen? What the fuck are you
talking about? They did something to
us, Frank. We have to expose this.
FRANK
There's nothing to expose.
JACOB
Jesus Christ! Who's been talking to
you?
(silence)
What's going on? How can you just
turn away?
(no response)
What about the others?
FRANK
They're not interested, Jake.
JACOB
Shit! You know it's not half the case
if I go it alone. We're all suffering
the same symptoms, Frank. The army is
to blame. They've done something to
us. How can you not want to know?
FRANK
(pausing)
Maybe it's not the army, Jake.
JACOB
What do you mean?
FRANK
Maybe there's a larger truth.
JACOB
What are you talking about?
FRANK
Maybe the demons are real.
JACOB
Goddamn it. What kind of bullshit is
that?
FRANK
Listen, Jake. I gotta go.
JACOB
What the hell? What kind of mumbo
jumbo ... ?
FRANK
I'm hanging up.
JACOB
Hey, wait!
FRANK
Don't bother to call again, okay?
FRANK hangs up. JACOB stands holding the phone for a long time, until
the high pitched whine from the receiver reminds him it's off the hook.
The sound frightens him and he slams the receiver down. QUickly JACOB
tears through his address book looking for other phone numbers. They
aren't there.
JACOB
Shit!
INT. JACOB'S APT.
JACOB hurries into the BEDROOM and pulls an old shoe box from the
closet. The box is filled with yellowing army papers, dog tags, and
photos of old comrades. Beneath his discharge papers he finds a sheet
scribbled with the names and addresses of platoon buddies. JACOB grabs
it. Then his eyes fall on the frayed remains of an old letter. He picks
it up and unfolds it with great care. The letter is written in a
child's handwriting. "DEAR DADDY, I LOVE YOU. PLEASE COME HOME. JED GOT
A FROG. ELI LOST MY KEY. MOM WANTS YOU TO SEND HER MONEY. LOVE, GABE."
CUT TO:
EXT. BROOKLYN SIDEWALK - DAY
GABE, on a BICYCLE, is rushing down the sidewalk. JACOB is running
alongside him, holding onto the seat. Plastic streamers trail from the
handlebars. GABE is a bit wobbly, but determined. After a couple of
false starts, JACOB lets go and GABE is riding by himself. For an
instant, GABE looks back at his father with a huge grin on his face.
JACOB is grinning, too. THE CAMERA HOLDS ON GABE as he pulls away from
us and heads into the distance.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. JACOB'S APT. - NIGHT
JACOB swallows hard as he stands there, holding the letter. Suddenly
his eyes lift off the page and glance at a full length mirror mounted
on the bedroom door. Something in the mirror, like the image of a
child, seems to move. He looks over. There is nothing there. Curious,
JACOB walks toward the mirror. As his image appears, he gasps and stops
moving. To his horror and ours, it is his own back that is reflected in
the mirror. The impossibility of the moment startles him. He lifts his
hand. The reflection moves with him. Frightened but defiant, JACOB
moves toward the mirror. The image in the mirror spins around. It is
the FRIGHTENING VIBRATING FACE he saw at the party with JEZZIE. An
unearthly scream comes from both their mouths.
JACOB
NO!!!
INT. BROOKLYN COURT HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON
A huge wooden door slams open. JACOB charges through it.
He is chasing his lawyer, DONALD GEARY, through a crowded court house
corridor. GEARY, sweaty and unshaven, is cradling a Coke in one hand, a
sandwich and a briefcase in the other. His stomach bounces wildly as he
walks.
JACOB
Geary! Mr. Geary! Listen, goddamn it!
You can't just walk away from this.
GEARY keeps walking. JACOB catches up to him.
JACOB
(continuing)
Who's been talking to you? The army?
Have they been talking to you, huh?
GEARY
Nobody's been talking to nobody. You
don't have a case, you hear me? It's
pure and simple. Now leave me alone.
Okay?
JACOB grabs the back of GEARY's jacket and pulls him up short.
GEARY
(continuing)
Take your hands off me!
JACOB lets go. He stares into GEARY's eyes.
JACOB
Listen, will you listen? They're
trying to get me. They're comin' out
of the walls. The army's done
something to me. I need you.
GEARY
You need ... a doctor.
JACOB
A doctor? And what's he gonna do,
tell me I'm crazy? They've fucked
with my head. I've got to prove it.
You've got to do something.
GEARY gives JACOB a pitiful look.
GEARY
There's nothing I can do.
He turns and walks away. JACOB stands there a moment, and then rushes
after him. GEARY is biting into his sandwich.
Mayonnaise spills onto his hand. He licks it with his tongue. JACOB
catches up to him.
GEARY
You mind? I'm eating, huh?
JACOB
Something's going on here. You're not
telling me something. What the hell's
gotten into you?
GEARY
I'll tell you what's gotten into me.
I don't know you from Adam, right?
You come to my office with this
bizarro story and demand I look into
it. Okay. I said I'd check it out and
I did. Now I don't know what kind of
fool you take me for, but you have
used and abused me, and I don't like
it.
JACOB
Used you?
GEARY
I talked to the Army's Bureau of
Records. You've never even been to
Viet Nam.
JACOB
What the hell is that supposed to
mean?
GEARY
It means that you and your buddies
are whacko, that you were discharged
on psychological grounds after some
war games in Thailand.
JACOB
(stunned)
War games? Thailand? That's not true!
How can you believe that? Can't you
see what they're doing? It's all a
lie. We were in Da Nang, for God's
sake. You've got to believe me.
GEARY
I don't have to do any such thing.
I'm eating my lunch, okay?
GEARY takes a swig of his COKE and begins walking away. JACOB, enraged,
charges after him. With a wild swipe he sends the COKE CAN shooting out
of GEARY's hand. It reverberates down the corridor. GEARY is stunned.
JACOB
You slimy bastard! You goddamn piece
of shit!
With a powerful thrust, JACOB rips the sandwich from GEARY's other
hand. Tossing it on the floor, he grinds his heel in it. Tomato and
mayonnaise squirt onto GEARY's shoe. JACOB turns away.
CUT TO JACOB walking down the COURT HOUSE CORRIDOR to the elevators.
There is a look of satisfaction on his face.
CUT BACK TO GEARY. He picks up a telephone and dials. Someone comes on
the line. GEARY speaks quietly.
GEARY
He's on his way.
CUT TO JACOB stepping onto the elevator. The doors close. The Muzak is
playing "Sonny Boy" with Al Jolson singing. JACOB is surprised to hear
it. He presses the down button for the main floor.
The elevator stops at the LOBBY. The doors open swiftly. SEVERAL
SOLDIERS are standing there. They approach JACOB.
SOLDIER 1
Let's go, Singer.
JACOB is shocked to see them. He tries to get away but two of the
SOLDIERS yank him toward the LOBBY doors.
SOLDIER 2
You're coming with us.
INT. CAR - LATE AFTERNOON
JACOB is hustled to a waiting car and shoved inside, in between two
officious looking MEN. The doors lock from the DRIVER's command.
ARMY OFFICIAL #1
Mr. Singer. What an appropriate name
for a man who can't keep his mouth
shut.
The car drives off.
JACOB
Who are you? What do you want?
ARMY OFFICIAL #2
We've been watching you for a long
time. You and your friends. You've
been exhibiting some very odd
behavior. Frightening people with
foolish talk about demons - and
experiments.
JACOB tries to speak but the other MAN grabs his mouth.
ARMY OFFICIAL #1
You're in over your head, Mr. Singer.
Men drown that way. The army was
another part of your life. Forget it.
It is dead and buried. Let it lie.
ARMY OFFICIAL #2
I hope we have made our point, Mr.
Singer.
JACOB stares at the men for a moment and then goes totally berserk.
Letting out a howl, he begins pounding and thrashing like a madman. He
is totally out of control.
With a wild leap, he grabs for the door handle. The door flies open. It
flaps back and forth, slamming into parked cars. JACOB tries to jump
out, but the men yank him back in. One of them pulls out a gun. JACOB
sees it and goes crazy. His feet kick in all directions, slamming the
DRIVER's nose into the steering wheel and shattering the side window.
The car careens around a corner sending the gun flying to the floor.
The men dive for it. It lodges beneath the seat. In the mayhem, JACOB
throws himself out of the flapping door and sprawls onto the pavement.
People look down at him as the car speeds away.
EXT. BROOKLYN - LATE AFTERNOON
JACOB grabs his back. He is in excruciating pain. He tries to get up,
but can't move. He reaches out to people passing by, but they ignore
him and hurry past.
A SALVATION ARMY SANTA has been watching the entire scene. After a
moment's consideration he leaves his post and ambles over to JACOB. He
leans down and steals his wallet.
SANTA
Merry Christmas.
EXT. BROOKLYN STREETS - EVENING
CUT TO THE SOUND OF A SIREN as an AMBULANCE races through the streets.
INT. HOSPITAL - EVENING
AN AMBULANCE CREW rushes JACOB to a HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM.
BEARER
He's been screaming like a madman.
You better get something in him.
RESIDENT
(approaching JACOB)
Hi. I'm Doctor Stewart. Can you tell
me what happened?
JACOB
My back. I can't move. I need my
chiropractor.
RESIDENT
Your back? Did you fall?
BEARER
They said he slipped on the ice. May
have hit his head.
ATTENDANT
Does he have any identification?
BEARER
No waller. Nothing.
JACOB
They stole it.
RESIDENT
Who did?
JACOB
I don't know. Santa Claus. I had my
son's picture in it. Gabe's picture.
It's the only one I had.
RESIDENT
We better get an orthopedic man in
here. Is Dr. Davis on call?
NURSE
I'll page him.
JACOB
Call my chiropractor.
NURSE
We're doing everything we can.
JACOB
Louis Schwartz. Nostrand Avenue.
RESIDENT
I'm going to have to move you a bit,
just to check for injuries. This may
hurt a little.
JACOB
No. Don't move me.
The RESIDENT ignores him. JACOB screams.
RESIDENT
I don't have to ask if you can feel
that.
JACOB
Goddamn it. I want Louis.
NURSE
Who's Louis?
RESIDENT
He's out of it. I'm taking him down
to X-ray.
An ORDERLY pushes the gurney through a pair of sliding doors. JACOB
tries to get up but the pain keeps him immobilized.
INT. CORRIDORS - NIGHT
JACOB begins a journey down what appears to be an endless series of
corridors. The wheels of the gurney turn with a hypnotic regularity.
The smooth tile floor gives way to roguh cement. The ORDERLY's feet
plod through pools of blood that coagulate in cracks and crevices along
the way. The surface grows rougher, the wheels more insistent. Body
parts and human bile splash against the walls as the gurney moves
faster.
JACOB
Where are you taking me? Where am I?
ORDERLY
You know where you are.
JACOB, panicked, tries again to get up but to no effect. He glances to
the side and sees mournful CREATURES being led into dark rooms. No one
fights or struggles. We hear muffled screams from behind closed doors.
Occasionally he glances inside the rooms and sees mangled bodies in
strange contraptions, people in rusty iron lungs, and hanging from
metal cages. Dark eyes peer out in horror. In one room a baseboard
heater bursts into flame. No one seems concerned. A door opens. A
bicycle with plastic streamers on the handlebars lies crushed and
mangled. One of its wheels is still spinning. JACOB cries out but it is
not his voice we hear. Rather it is a familiar unearthly roar. His
whole body stiffens. As he rounds the corner he sees a figure, its head
vibrating in endless terror. it is the same image he has seen before.
JACOB screams.
INT. ROOM - NIGHT
JACOB is wheeled into a tiny ROOM. A numer of "DOCTORS" are waiting. As
they draw closer JACOB notices that something about them is not right.
They bear a subtle resemblance to Bosch-like DEMONS, creatures of
another world. JACOB tries to sit up but winces in pain. He cannot
move. He tries to scream but no sound comes out.
Chains and pulleys hang from the ceiling. They are lowered and attached
with speed and efficiency to JACOB's arms and legs. He screams.
JACOB
Oh God!
The "DOCTORS" laugh. There is the sound of a huge door closing. JACOB
is left in semi-darkness. Suddenly a new group of "DOCTORS" emerges
from the shadows. They are carrying sharp surgical instruments. They
surround JACOB, their eyes glistening as bright as their blades. JACOB
is panting and sweating in fear. One of the "DOCTORS" leans over JACOB.
He gasps with horror. It is JEZZIE.
JACOB
JEZZIE!
She pays no attention to him. He stares at her, THE CAMERA TILTING DOWN
HER BODY. As it gets to her foot we see it is a decaying mass, swarming
with maggots. The "DOCTORS" laugh. They take great pleasure in his
suffering. Their voices are strange and not human. Each utterance
contains a multitude of contradictory tones, sincere and compassionate,
taunting and mocking at the same time. The confusion of meanings is a
torment of its own.
JACOB
(continuing)
Get me out of here.
"DOCTOR"
Where do you want to go?
JACOB
Take me home.
"DOCTOR"
Home?
(they all laugh)
This is your home. You're dead.
JACOB
Dead? No. I just hurt my back. I'm
not dead.
"DOCTOR"
What are you then?
JACOB
I'm alive.
"DOCTOR"
Then what are you doing here?
JACOB
I don't know. I don't know.
(he struggles like an
animal)
This isn't happening.
"DOCTOR"
What isn't happening?
JACOB
Let me out of here!
"DOCTOR"
There is no out of here. You've been
killed. Don't you remember?
A "DOCTOR" approaches JACOB. As he turns, we notice with horror that he
has no eyes or eye sockets. He extracts a long needle from his belt and
positions it over JACOB's head. Like a divining rod it locates a
particular point near the crown of his head. With a powerful thrust the
"DOCTOR" shoves the needle into JACOB's skull and pushes it slowly into
his brain. JACOB howls.
EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT
CUT RAPIDLY TO VIETNAM and a replay of flashes of the opening sequence
of the film. SOLDIERS with bayonets are charging over rice paddies in
the dark of the night. ONE OF THE SOLDIERS charges at JACOB with a long
bayonet blade and jams it into his intestines. JACOB cries out.
INT. ROOM - NIGHT
CUT BACK TO THE "DOCTORS".
"DOCTOR"
Remember?
JACOB
No! That was years ago! I've lived
years since then.
"DOCTOR"
It's all been a dream.
JACOB
No! The army did this to me! They've
done something to my brain.
(he raves like a madman)
Jezzie! I want my boys! Sarah! I'm
not dead! I want my family!
The "DOCTORS" laugh and back away, disappearing into the darkness.
INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Suddenly a fluorescent light flashes overhead. NORMAL HOSPITAL WALLS
materialize instantaneously around him. A NURSE enters the room
followed by SARAH, ELI, and JED. They approach JACOB who is lying in
traction, suspended over a hospital bed.
NURSE
He's still pretty doped up. I don't
think he'll be able to talk yet and I
doubt that he'll recognize you.
SARAH
I just want to see him.
JED
(eating a Snickers bar)
Dad. Hi. It's us. We just found out.
ELI
You look terrible. Does that hurt?
NURSE
I'll be outside if you need me.
SARAH
Jake. It's me. We heard what
happened.
JACOB
(his voice hoarse,
nearly whispering)
I'm not dead. I am not dead.
SARAH
No. Of course you're not. You've just
hurt your back. That's all. You're
going to be fine. It'll just take
some time.
JED
A month, they said.
ELI
(trying to joke)
You just hang in there, Dad.
SARAH
(smacking him)
That's not funny.
(she reaches over and
rubs JACOB's brow)
What a mess, huh? God I wish there
was something I could do. I love you,
Jacob. For whatever that's worth. I
do.
There is a sudden sound of "DOCTORS" laughing. JACOB jerks his head
painfully, but does not see them.
"DOCTOR" (O.S.)
Dream on!
JACOB
(yelling at the unseen
voice)
No! Oh God.
SARAH
Jacob, what can I do?
JACOB
Save me!
JACOB's plea confuses SARAH. She responds with a kiss.
INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
DAYLIGHT streams through the window in JACOB's ROOM. He is still in
traction and looks very uncomfortable. A new NURSE enters holding a
plastic container with a straw poking out.
NURSE
Well, don't we look better this
morning? That was a hard night,
wasn't it?
JACOB
Where am I?
NURSE
Lennox Hospital.
JACOB
I'm awake?
NURSE
You look awake to me. Here.
(she holds the straw to
his lips)
Drink some of this.
JACOB
(staring at her
intently)
Where's Sarah? Where did she go?
(the NURSE gives him a
strange look)
She was here ...
NURSE
No. No. You haven't had any visitors.
JACOB
That's a lie. My family was here.
NURSE
I'm sorry.
JACOB
Last night! They were as real as you
are!
The NURSE smiles and nods in appeasement.
JACOB
This is not a dream! This is my life.
NURSE
Of course it is. What else could it
be?
She giggles nervously. There is a funny glint in her eyes. JACOB looks
away. He doesn't want to see it.
OMIT
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - EVENING
There is a loud commotion in the HALL. We see LOUIS SCHWARTZ, JACOB's
chiropractor, screaming JACOB's name.
LOUIS
Jacob! Jacob Singer!
JACOB yells.
JACOB
Louis! I'm here! In here!
INT. JACOB'S ROOM - DAY
LOUIS storms through JACOB's door followed by several NURSES and
ORDERLIES.
JACOB
LOUIS!
NURSE 1
You can't go in there!
ORDERLY
You're going to have to leave.
LOUIS stares furiously at JACOB stretched out on the traction
apparatus. He begins to yell.
LOUIS
Good God, Jake. What have they done?
(he examines JACOB and
screams at the NURSES)
What is this, the Middle Ages? And
they call this modern medicine. This
is barbaric! Barbaric!
(turning to JACOB)
It's okay, Jake. It's not serious.
I'll get you out of here.
(yelling at the ORDERLY)
What is this, the Inquisition? Why
don't you just burn him at the stake
and put him out of his misery?
LOUIS charges over to the traction equipment and begins working the
pulleys that suspend JACOB over the bed. The NURSES and ORDERLIES
become instantly hysterical and start screaming.
ORDERLY
What the hell do you think ... ?
LOUIS
Don't you come near me.
NURSE 2
You can't do that!
LOUIS
What is this, a prison? Stay back.
NURSE 1
You can't. Call the police.
One of the ORDERLIES lunges at LOUIS who swings back at him with one of
the pulley chains. It just misses.
LOUIS
(to the ORDERLIES)
You take one step and I'll wrap this
around your neck.
LOUIS lowers JACOB into a wheelchair while holding the others at bay.
LOUIS
(continuing)
Hold on, Jake, we're getting out of
here.
NURSES and ORDERLIES part as he pushes him quickly from the room.
OMIT
INT. CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE - EVENING
LOUIS helps JACOB over to an adjusting table in a room that, compared
with the hospital, is comfortable and serene. He pushes a lever and the
table rises to a vertical position. JACOB leans against it and rides it
down to a horizontal position. Every moment is agony for him.
LOUIS
Half an hour from now and you'll be
walking out of here all by yourself.
Mark my words.
(JACOB barely hears
them)
Well, you've done it to yourself this
time, haven't you?
JACOB
(nearly whispering)
Am I dead, Louis?
(LOUIS leans over to
hear)
Am I dead?
LOUIS
(smiling)
From a slipped disc? That'd be a
first.
JACOB
I was in Hell. I've been there. It's
horrible. I don't want to die, Louis.
LOUIS
Well, I'll see what I can do about
it.
JACOB
I've seen it. It's all pain.
LOUIS
(working on JACOB's
spine like a master
mechanic)
You ever read Meister Eckart?
(JACOB shakes his head
"no")
How did you ever get your Doctorate
without reading Eckart?
(LOUIS takes hold of
JACOB's legs and yanks
them swiftly)
Good. Okay, let's turn over gently.
Right side.
JACOB turns to his left. LOUIS shakes his head in dismay.
LOUIS
The other "right," okay?
(he helps JACOB turn
over)
You're a regular basket case, you
know that?
(he moves JACOB's arm
over his head)
Eckart saw Hell, too.
LOUIS positions JACOB's other arm, bends his legs, and then pushes down
on his thigh. His spine moves with a cracking sound. JACOB groans.
LOUIS
(continuing)
You know what he said? The only thing
that burns in Hell is the part of you
that won't let go of your life; your
memories, your attachments. They burn
'em all away. But they're not punish-
ing you, he said. They're freeing
your soul. Okay, other side.
He helps JACOB and repositions him. Again he pushes and the spine
cracks.
LOUIS
(continuing)
Wonderful. So the way he sees it, if
you're frightened of dying and hold-
ing on, you'll see devils tearing
your life away. But if you've made
your peace then the devils are really
angels freeing you from the earth.
It's just a matter of how you look at
it, that's all. So don't worry, okay?
Relax. Wiggle your toes.
JACOB's toes dance as LOUIS gives him a quick, unexpected jab to the
lower vertebrae in his back.
LOUIS
(continuing)
Perfect. We got it.
(LOUIS pushes a lever
and the table rises back
up)
Okay. Let's just give it a little
try. See if you can stand.
JACOB
What? By myself?
LOUIS
You can do it. Come on. Easy. Just
give it a try.
JACOB steps cautiously away from the table. He moves hesitantly, with
deliberate restraint. LOUIS encourages him like a faith healer coaxing
the lame. His first steps have an aura of the miraculous about them.
JACOB walks slowly, without help. LOUIS smiles impishly. He looks like
a giant cherub.
LOUIS
Hallelujah.
LOUIS puts his arm around him. Then JACOB tries again, gradually
rediscovering his balance and strength. With each step his confidence
returns. LOUIS is pleased. Then, suddenly, without warning, JACOB turns
and heads toward the door.
LOUIS
What are you doing?
JACOB
There's something I've gotta take
care of, Louis.
LOUIS
What are you talking about? You can
barely stand.
JACOB
I'm walking, aren't I?
LOUIS
Jake, you need to rest.
JACOB
Not tonight, Louis. No more rest.
He walks slowly out the door. LOUIS starts to go after him. JACOB turns
around and shakes his head "no." The look on his face is firm and
defiant. LOUIS stands back and lets him go.
JACOB
I love you, Louis.
EXT. U.S. ARMY RECRUITING HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
CUT TO A SDIREN BLARING and a fire engine racing through the streets of
lower MANHATTAN. A CROWD is forming. Banks of lights and television
cameras amass in the cold night air. Police cars and mobile units rush
to the scene.
CUT TO JACOB. In one hand he is holding a brightly lit torch. In the
other he is holding a container of gasoline and pouring it on the steps
of the U.S. ARMY RECRUITING HEADQUARTERS. The volatile liquid splashes
against his pants and shoes and runs down the pavement. A five gallon
container lies emptying nearby. Gasoline belches from it insistently
and pours onto the street. Bystanders back away as the gasoline snakes
toward them.
Television cameras and microphones are pointing in JACOB's direction,
but at a safe distance. He is yelling at them, his teeth chattering
from the cold.
JACOB
Listen to me. There were four
companies in our batallion. Five
hundred men. Seven of us were left
when it was over. Seven! Four
companies engaged in an enemy
offensive that not one of us who
survived can remember fighting.
BYSTANDERS
Use the torch!
ONLOOKER
Shut up! Let him talk!
POLICE AMBULANCES are arriving at the scene. FIREMEN ready hoses at
nearby hydrants. T.V. CAMERAS are rolling.
JACOB
(shouting)
You don't forget a battle where 500
men were killed. They did something
to us. I want to know the truth, the
goddamn truth. We have a right to
know.
(he yells toward the
cameras)
Are you getting all this? I want this
on national T.V. I want the whole
country, the whole world to know.
He holds up the torch. A loudspeaker blares through the crowd.
VOICE
Throw that torch away, young man.
Give yourself up. You're under
arrest.
JACOB
For what? For seeking the truth?
VOICE
Please come quietly.
JACOB
You come near me and I'll blow us all
up.
VOICE
We're not going to hurt you.
ONLOOKER
Give him a chance to talk!
JACOB
The army will deny it. They've
falsified my records. They've lied to
my lawyer, threatened my buddies. But
they can't threaten me.
BYSTANDER
You tell 'em!
BYSTANDER
Use the torch!
VOICE
Okay, let's clear the area. Everyone
out.
Suddenly a lighted match flies in JACOB's direction. JACOB is enraged.
He brandishes the torch at the crowd.
JACOB
What the fuck do you think you're
doing?
Another match hurls toward him and dies in mid-air. PEOPLE on the
fringe of the crowd begin to run. JACOB does not move.
VOICE
Clear the area. This is an order!
JACOB
What is wrong with you?
We hear laughter from PEOPLE in the crowd. As JACOB looks out into some
of their eyes he sees demons looking back. One of them throws another
match. Crazed, JACOB runs toward them. PEOPLE jump back.
Suddenly JACOB freezes. Standing on the sidelines, he sees one of the
ARMY OFFICIALS who trapped him in the car. He is reaching for a gun.
JACOB, stunned, yells at the top of hhis lungs.
JACOB
NO!
With a defiant roar, he hurls the torch straight up into the air. We
see it from high above the crowd spinning higher and higher. All eyes
stare upward watching it in a kind of wonder. Then, reaching its apex,
just below the camera, it begins its descent. The eyes of the crowd
turn to fear. SOMEONE yells.
ONLOOKER
He'll burn us all!
Screams fill the air as PEOPLE scramble to escape the potential
conflagration. Only JACOB remains motionless, standing silently, almost
heroically, in the middle of it all.
Suddenly the torch hits the ground and a pool of gasoline ignites with
a blinding flare that sends flames shooting in all directions. PEOPLE
panic. T.V. REPORTERS and CAMERAMEN run for their lives. The ARMY
OFFICIALS run, too. The flames travel toward the Army Headquarters and
rush along the curb. Water hoses are trying to douse them as they
spread. JACOB, surprisingly untouched by the fire, walks slowly through
the frightened crowds, as if in a daze. Viewed through the flames the
scene momentarily resembles a vision of Hell.
INT. JACOB'S APT. - NIGHT
JACOB, stark naked and covered with goose bumps, runs his hands under a
shower spray. The water is freezing and taking forever to warm up.
Anxious, he dashes past his gasoline drenched clothes, grabs a suitcase
from the BEDROOM closet, and stuffs it with clothes. Then he hurries
back to the shower, tests it, and jumps in.
Lather covers JACOB's hair and hangs over his tightly closed eyes. His
entire body is covered in suds. He is washing as quickly as he can.
Suddenly he hears a noise as someone enters the BATHROOM. He tenses.
JACOB
Who's there? Who is it?
JACOB struggles to rinse the soap from his eyes. They are burning.
There is a shadow behind the curtain.
JACOB
(continuing)
Goddamn it! Who's there?
JACOB rubs his eyes, fighting to see. Suddenly the shower curtain is
thrown back. JACOB backs against the wall. A hand reaches in and pulls
his nipple, pinching hard.
JEZZIE
It's just me.
JACOB
Jezzie?
JEZZIE
Who else were you expecting?
JACOB
Let go!
JEZZIE
Where were you, Jake? Where've you
been? Why haven't you called?
JACOB
Stay away from me, Jez.
JEZZIE
I want to know. You tell me!
JACOB
You wanna know? Turn on the T.V.
Watch the fucking news!
He pushes her away and jumps out of the shower.
CUT TO JACOB dressing and piling the last of his clothes into his
suitcase. JEZZIE, in a robe, is watching him.
JEZZIE
Why are you doing this to me? You
can't just go away like that.
JACOB
I can do anything I want.
She stares at him with confusion. THE PHONE RINGS.
JACOB
Don't!
JEZZIE
It might be for me.
JACOB
I'm not here. You haven't seen me.
JEZZIE
(picking up the
receiver)
Hello ... No. He's not here. I
haven't seen him all night ... I
don't know when ... What? Tell him
what?
(JACOB looks up)
Vietnam? ... What experiments?
JACOB lunges for the phone.
JACOB
Hello. This is Jacob Singer.
(he listens with growing
fascination)
God almighty! ... Yes. Yes. Right.
Where would you like to meet?
(he listens)
How will I know you.
(JACOB seems
uncomfortable)
Okay. I'll be there.
He hangs up the phone and stands silently for a moment.
JEZZIE
Who was that?
JACOB
A chemist. Part of a chemical warfare
unit out of Saigon. He said he knows me
and that I'll know him when I see him.
JEZZIE
How?
JACOB
I have no idea.
(he thinks)
I was right. There were experiments.
I knew it. I knew it. My God.
JEZZIE
How do you know he's telling the
truth?
JACOB stares at JEZZIE for several moments but does not respond. The
11:00 NEWS is coming on. JACOB's image can be seen on the screen. We
hear the NEWSCASTER speaking.
NEWSCASTER
Leading the news tonight, a bizarre
demonstration on the steps of the
U.S. Army Recruiting Headquarters, in
downtown Manhattan. Jacob Singer, an
alleged Vietnam vet ...
JACOB
Alleged? Alleged?
NEWSCASTER
... challenged the United States Army
to admit conducting secret experi-
ments involving hundreds of American
soldiers during the Vietnam war.
JEZZIE stares at the T.V., dumbfounded. JACOB takes his suitcase and
hurries to the front door. He opens it a crack and peers into the
hallway. JEZZIE runs after him.
JEZZIE
(almost threatening)
Don't leave me, Jake.
INT. BUILDING CORRIDOR - NIGHT
JACOB gazes at JEZZIE for a moment and then hurries down the HALL. He
stops at the stairwell and looks back. JEZZIE is still standing there.
She is very angry. JACOB just stares at her for a moment and then
disappears down the stairwell.
EXT. WESTSIDE HIGHWAY - NIGHT
JACOB is standing near the WESTSIDE HIGHWAY. GROUPS OF MEN in black
leather jackets are crusing the area and look at JACOB with curiosity.
One MAN in particular cruises by several times and then approaches him.
MICHAEL
Jacob? Hi. I'm Michael Newman.
Friends call me Mike.
JACOB is startled when he sees him. He is the same YOUNG MAN who has
appeared throughout the film, assisting JACOB in moments of crisis.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
Surprised, huh? I told you you'd know
me. I've been tracking you for a long
time. I just wish I'd spoken to you
before tonight.
JACOB
I don't get it. Who are you? Why have
you been following me?
MICHAEL
Observation, mainly. Clinical study.
You were one of the survivors.
A POLICE CAR passes them on the street. MICHAEL grabs JACOB's shoulder
and turns him away nervously.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
Come on, we're not safe around here.
HUDSON RIVER PIER - NIGHT
JACOB and MICHAEL are sitting on a deserted WEST SIDE PIER that juts
into the Hudson River. JACOB is wide-eyed as he listens to MICHAEL's
story.
MICHAEL
So first I'm arrested, right? Best
LSD I ever made, right down the
drain. I figure this is it, twenty
years in the joint, if I'm lucky.
That was '68.
JACOB
Long time ago.
MICHAEL
(nodding his head)
Next thing I know I'm on Rikers
Island. Ever been there?
(JACOB shakes his head)
Suddenly they take me from my cell to
the visitors room with those bank
teller windows, you know. Four army
colonels, medals up their asses, are
standing on the other side. They tell
me if I'll come to Vietnam for two
years, no action, mind you, just work
in a lab, they'll drop all the
charges and wipe the record clean.
Well, I'd only been in jail for
thirteen hours and I already knew
that Nam couldn't be any worse.
JACOB
Shows how much you knew.
MICHAEL
No shit. They had me by the balls.
Next thing I know I'm in Saigon ...
in a secret lab synthesizing mind-
altering drugs. Not the street stuff
mind you. They had us isolating
special properties. The dark side,
you know? They wanted a drug that
increased aggressive tendencies.
JACOB
Yeah, sure. We were losing the war.
MICHAEL
Right. They were worried. They
figured you guys were too soft. They
wanted something to stir you up, tap
into your anger, you know? And we did
it. The most powerful thing I ever
saw. Even a bad trip, and I had my
share, never compared to the fury of
the Ladder.
JACOB
The Ladder?
MICHAEL
That's what they called it. A fast
trip right down the ladder.
(he makes a downward
dive with his hand)
Right to the primal fear, the base
anger. I'm tellin' you, it was
powerful stuff. But I don't need to
tell you. You know.
JACOB can barely catch his breath, the information he is receiving is
so powerful to his mind.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
We did experiments on jungle monkeys.
They bashed each other's heads in,
gouged out their eyes, chewed off
their tails. The brass loved it. Then
they made us try it on Charlie.
(he pauses)
They took these POW's, just kids
really, and put 'em in a courtyard.
We fed 'em huge doses of the stuff.
(he stops for a moment;
a tear rolls down his
cheek)
They were worse than the monkeys. I
never knew men could do such things.
The whole thing still blows me away.
MICHAEL stands up and begins walking in circles around the PIER. JACOB,
astounded, gets up and walks beside him.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
Anyway, this big offensive was coming
up. Everyone knew it; Time Magazine,
Huntley-Brinkley. And the brass was
scared 'cause they knew we couldn't
win. Morale was down. It was gettin'
ugly in the States. Hell, you
remember.
JACOB
Like it was yesterday.
MICHAEL
A couple days later they decided to
use the Ladder, on one test
battalion. Yours. Just in an
infintessimal dose in the food
supply, to prove its effectiveness in
the field. They were sure your unit
would have the highest kill ratio in
the whole goddamn offensive. And you
did, too. But not the way they
tnought.
JACOB is beginning to shake. MICHAEL pulls a container of pills out of
his jacket pocket.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
Hey, want something to calm you down?
Made 'em myself.
JACOB shakes his head no.
JACOB
None of us can remember that night. I
get flashes of it but they don't make
sense. We saw shrinks for years. But
nothing they did could ever touch it.
What happened? Was there ever an
offensive?
MICHAEL
A couple of days later. It was
fierce. You guys never saw it.
JACOB
But there was an attack. I can still
see them coming. There was a fight,
wasn't there?
MICHAEL
Yeah. But not with the Cong.
JACOB
Who then?
He hesitates, obviously uncomfortable. His eyes grow puffy. He looks at
the river for a moment and then turns to JACOB.
MICHAEL
You killed each other.
JACOB's mouth drops open. The words hit him like a truck.
EXT. VIETNAM - NIGHT
Gunfire explodes in the darkening sky. We are in Vietnam. JACOB is at
the bottom of a trench fighting with FRANK. Chaos surrounds them. Men
are screaming. The ENEMY is storming at them from the rear. ROD raises
his bayonet and jams it into the belly of his ATTACKER. It is only
after a series of jabs that he sees it's another American he's killed.
ROD's eyes go blank with confusion and terror.
ROD
Oh my God! WHAT'S HAPPENING?
JACOB looks up from the trench and sees a continuing wave of AMERICAN
SOLDIERS bearing down on them. FRANK jumps up, knocking JACOB to the
ground and slamming his rifle into JACOB's back. As he spins around
JACOB sees another SOLDIER charging at him. His bayonet is aimed at
JACOB's stomach. For the first time JACOB remembers the face of his
attacker. He is a YOUNG MAN, about 19 years old, clean cut, wearing
glasses. The two men stare at each other in terrible confusion. It
seems like a moment out of time. And then the SOLDIER lurches forward
and rams his bayonet deep into JACOB's abdomen.
CUT TO MICHAEL BACK ON THE PIER. JACOB is ashen-faced.
MICHAEL
It was brother against brother. No
discrimination. You tore each other
to pieces. I knew it would happen. I
warned them. I WARNED THEM. But I was
just a hippie chemist, right? Jesus!
And I helped 'em make the stuff ... I
talked to the guys who bagged the
bodies. They're in worse shape than
you, believe me. They saw what was
left. It's a blessing you don't
remember. Of course the brass covered
the whole thing up right away. Blamed
it all on a surprise attack.
he pauses)
I needed to find you. The Ladder was
my baby.
Tears start flowing down MICHAEL's face. He wipes them with his sleeve.
It takes him a moment to regain his composure. JACOB is shivering.
MICHAEL takes off his jacket, drapes it over JACOB, and leads him to
the wooden planks overhanging the water. They sit and gaze at the
JERSEY SHORE.
CUT TO A WIDE SHOT OF MICHAEL AND JACOB in pre-dawn light.
MICHAEL
I always suspected the effects might
come back. That's why I had to follow
you. I had a hell of a time getting
hold of your records.
JACOB
If you knew, why didn't you say
anything?
MICHAEL
The truth can kill, my friend. Five
hundred men died out there. This
isn't a story they'd ever want out.
When Paul's car blew up I realized
the scope of the thing. I knew they
meant business.
JACOB
So why tell me now?
MICHAEL
Because I can get rid of the demons.
I can block the Ladder. I have an
antidote. We can kill them off,
chemically speaking. They'll all
disappear. It's chemistry, my friend.
I know. I created it. Come with me. I
can help.
INT. HOTEL - DAWM
JACOB and MICHAEL enter a sleazy HOTEL near the docks, obviously
frequented by a gay clientele. JACOB is uncomfortable as they check in.
MICHAEL, however, seems to know the ropes. They go to a small room.
JACOB
You come here often?
MICHAEL
Sometimes. When it's convenient.
JACOB
How do I know this isn't just some
kind of, you know, seduction or
something?
MICHAEL
Hey, I'm not the problem. You've got
bigger problems than me.
MICHAEL reaches into his pocket and casually extracts a vial.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
I came up with the formula back in
Nam but I never got a chance to use
it.
JACOB
Never?
MICHAEL
I'd hoped I'd never have to. Just
open your mouth and stick out your
tongue.
JACOB
What is it?
MICHAEL
Don't worry. Take it. It'll free your
head. Come on.
JACOB
(fearful)
I don't know.
MICHAEL
"Yea though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death I shall fear
no evil," but no one ever said I
wouldn't be shittin' in my pants
every step of the way, huh?
(JACOB smiles, his mouth
open)
Stick out your tongue.
(JACOB obeys as an
eyedropper deposits a
drop of liquid on the
back of his tongue)
That'a boy. Now why don't you just
lie down and relax.
JACOB
One drop?
MICHAEL
It's strong stuff.
JACOB stretches out on the bed. He stares up at the ceiling and
examines its pock-marked lunar look. Long cracks and shallow craters
erode the surface. It is an alien terrain.
JACOB
I think I'm falling asleep.
MICHAEL
Pleasant dreams.
The words send a jolt through JACOB's body. He tries to get up but
can't. He's frightened.
JACOB
I can't move.
MICHAEL
Just relax.
JACOB
What's happening? Help me.
The ceiling begins to rumble. Cracks split wide open. Huge crevasses
tear through the plaster. JACOB's world is crumbling. He stares in
horror as DEMONIC FORMS attempt to surge through the rupture above him.
Piercing eyes and sharp teeth glimmer in the darkness. Hooved feet and
pointed claws clamor to break through.
JACOB
(continuing)
HELP ME!
Instantly MICHAEL appears standing over him. He is holding the vial
with the antidote. He draws an eyedropper full of the fluid and holds
it over JACOB's mouth.
MICHAEL
Take it!
JACOB fights him, but MICHAEL forces the entire contents of the
eyedropper down his throat. JACOB gags. He tries to spit it out, but
can't.
Suddenly the ceiling erupts in violent clashes as whole chunks break
off and collide like continental plates. The collisons wreak havoc on
the DEMONS, chopping and dismembering them. Body parts fall from the
ceiling like a Devil's rain. Horrible screams echo from the other side.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
Don't fight it. It's your own mind.
It's your own fears.
Flashes of light and dark storm over JACOB's head, thundering like a
war in the heavens. It is a scene of raw power and growing catastrophe.
It builds in fury and rage until suddenly the ceiling explodes. JACOB's
eyes stare into the formlessness expanding around him. All space is
becoming a dark liquid void.
Gradually the liquid grows bluer, clearer. There is an undulating sense
to the imagery, a feeling of womb-like comfort. Strange lights appear
and sparkle before us like sunlight on the ocean. JACOB is rushing
upward, toward the surface.
With the delirious sound of water giving way to air, JACOB breaks
through. To his amazement, he finds himself floating out-stretched on
shimmering sunlit water. Above him are clouds of such wondrous beauty
that they cannot possibly be of the earth. Pillars of golden light
reach down from the heavens creating a cathedral of light. It is a
vision of heaven, a vast, almost mythic paradise. JACOB is awed.
A sudden movement catches his attention. He looks over and sees MICHAEL
standing before him. Only MICHAEL looks different. His face seems to
radiate an inner light, a transcendental beauty. JACOB is nearly
blinded by his presence and must shield his eyes to look at him.
MICHAEL
So, how you doin'?
The casualness of the words catches JACOB by surprise. He sits up. To
his shock and amazement, he finds that he is back in THE HOTEL ROOM.
MICHAEL is standing at the foot of the bed. JACOB is totally
disoriented. His eyes move slowly around the room, taking everything
in. He doesn't speak.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
It was better than you expected, huh?
JACOB just stares at him for a while and then suddenly begins to laugh.
It is a huge laugh, full of energy and life.
MICHAEL
(continuing)
And no more demons. I told you they'd
be gone.
JACOB
I don't believe this. It's a miracle,
Michael. A miracle.
MICHAEL
Better living through chemistry,
that's my motto.
EXT. GREENWICH VILLAGE - DAY
JACOB and MICHAEL are walking through the STREETS OF GREENWICH VILLAGE.
It is early MORNING and the sidewalks are bustling with PEOPLE. JACOB
stares into their faces and beams when they smile back. MICHAEL enjoys
JACOB's happiness.
EXT. WASHINGTON SQUARE - DAY
JACOB and MICHAEL walk through WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK.
JACOB
It was paradise, Michael. You showed
it to me. You were there.
MICHAEL
Well that's good to know.
JACOB
Mike, it was real. It was glorious.
MICHAEL
Glorious. I'm not surprised. I fed
you enough of that stuff to send a
horse to heaven. I'm just glad you
came back.
JACOB
I would have stayed there if I could.
MICHAEL
I'm sure. You've got nothing but
troubles waitin' for you here.
He points to two POLICEMEN on the far side of the SQUARE.
MICHAEL
(taking JACOB's arm)
Come on.
EXT. GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL - DAY
The TWO MEN head up to GRAMERCY PARK and stop in front of the GRAMERCY
PARK HOTEL. Reaching into his wallet, MICHAEL pulls out a huge stack of
credit cards and hands one to JACOB.
MICHAEL
Here. I've got every credit card ever
printed. Take this. Stay here till
you can arrange to get away. It's on
me.
JACOB
No. I couldn't.
MICHAEL
What? You want the Plaza? Don't be
foolish. Here. Take this, too.
(he pulls out a business
card)
This is my place on Prince Street.
It's got my phone, everything. Call
if you need me ... but you won't.
Everything's gonna work out. You just
get outta town as fast as you can.
The New York police can be effective
when they want to be.
JACOB
I don't know what to say.
MICHAEL
Save the words ... Just send back my
credit card.
MICHAEL laughs, hugs JACOB, and walks away.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
JACOB is in a lovely MOTEL ROOM overlooking GRAMERCY SQUARE. He is
sprawled out happily on the bed when there is a knock at the door. He
jumps up and opens it. JEZZIE is standing there. She looks at JACOB
quizzically. He smiles and takes her in his arms, swinging her into the
room.
JEZZIE
What are you doing here? Are you all
right? How do you expect to pay for
this?
(JACOB smiles)
Everyone's looking for you, Jake. I
dodged people all over the place,
reporters, police. I don't know what
you're gonna do.
JACOB
I'm gonna make love to you. That's
what I'm gonna do.
JEZZIE
Are you out of your mind?
JACOB
Yep. Finally. I love you, Jez.
JEZZIE
God, I can't keep up with all your
changes.
JACOB
Me neither.
JEZZIE
What's gotten into you?
JACOB grins.
CUT TO JACOB and JEZZIE lying in bed gently caressing one another. For
all his ardor JACOB is exhausted from the events of the preceding day.
While stroking JEZZIE's hair he begins to fall asleep. JEZZIE crawls on
top of him and shoves her hand down his pants. JACOB smiles.
DISSOLVE TO JACOB and JEZZIE making love.
TIME CUT:
DISSOLVE TO JACOB and JEZZIE lying in front of the T.V. watching a
romantic movie. JEZZIE snuggles up to JACOB.
JEZZIE
It's amazing, you know, that a drug
could change things like that,
destroy a life and then give it back.
It's hard to believe that the world
could be so hellish on day and like
heaven the next.
JACOB
I tell you, it was so wonderful. I
felt like a little boy. I saw
Paradise, Jezzie.
JEZZIE
It's so hard to believe.
There is a knock at the door. JACOB throws on a bathrobe. JEZZIE jumps
under the sheets.
JACOB
Who's there?
BELLBOY (V.O.)
It's your dinner, sir.
JEZZIE's eyes brighten. JACOB opens the door. A BELLBOY wheels in a
table set for dinner. He sets it in a corner of the room. JEZZIE jumps
out of bed, runs to the table, sniffs at the food, and squeals
excitedly.
JEZZIE
This is one of my dreams, Jake. Ever
since I was a little girl. I never
thought it would happen.
JACOB
Stick with me, kid.
JEZZIE smiles.
TIME CUT:
DISSOLVE to JACOB and JEZZIE sitting next to a large window overlooking
GRAMERCY PARK. They are sipping champagne.
JEZZIE
I want to go with you, Jake. Wherever
you go.
JACOB
It's not practical, Jez. It'll be
hard enough alone.
JEZZIE
I can waitress. I'm good.
JACOB
No. Things are too hot. Later. I'll
send for you.
JEZZIE
Bullshit!
JACOB
I promise.
JEZZIE
Please.
JACOB
No. I'm a marked man, Jez. I'm the
only one left. I don't want to expose
you to that. It's not right for you
or me. Be reasonable.
JEZZIE
Reasonable? Reasonable? Jake ...
You're gettin' me angry.
JACOB
I love you when you're angry.
JEZZIE
Oh yeah?
(her eyes twinkle
suggestively)
Try leavin' without me.
JACOB laughs. JEZZIE doesn't. Unexpectedly she grabs JACOB and pushes
him onto the bed. In seconds they are all over each other, their
clothes flying in all directions. They seem as happy as could be.
OMIT
INT. GRAND CENTRAL STATION - DAY
JACOB enters GRAND CENTRAL STATION. He checks out all the PEOPLE around
him. Not a DEMON in sight. Hurrying to the TICKET WINDOW he gets in
line. The TICKET SELLER looks up.
JACOB
Chicago. One way. For tomorrow.
SELLER
How many?
JACOB
One.
SELLER
That'll be $119.75.
JACOB pulls out MICHAEL's credit card. The SELLER rings it up. While he
is waiting JACOB notices a POLICEMAN looking at him. The stare
unsettles him. The SELLER hands JACOB his ticket. He takes it and
hurries into the CROWD. Looking back he notices the POLICEMAN is
following him.
INT. MEN'S ROOM - DAY
JACOB enters the MEN'S ROOM. He hurries into one of the stalsls, drops
his pants, and sits. He eyes the graffiti on the walls and then notices
a wad of tissue stuffed into a hole between him and the next stall. It
is moving. Suddenly the tissue falls to the floor. JACOB glances at the
hole curiously and leans forward to examine it. He is shocked to see an
eye staring back at him.
JACOB
Goddamn it!
(he covers it with his
hand. A pencil jabs his
palm. He yells)
Fucking pervert.
Two lips form around the hole. A tongue wags obscenely.
VOICE
Dream on!
JACOB
(shocked)
What?!
The mouth is gone. JACOB hears the stall door fly open and feet running
from the room. He jumps up and grabs his pants. He dashes out of the
MEN'S ROOM. He hears footsteps and chases after them.
INT. GRAND CENTRAL STATION - DAY
JACOB bursts into the MAIN TERMINAL. He sees someone rushing toward the
main doors and speeds after him. HOMELESS PEOPLE, huddling along the
corridors, watch as they run past. Escaping to the street, the MAN
disappears in the holiday throngs. JACOB, crazed, stands gasping for
breath. His fists dig into his coat pocket. Suddenly he feels something
and seems surprised when MICHAEL's CARD emerges in his hands.
OMIT
INT. SOHO LOFT BUILDING - EVENING
JACOB runs up the stairs in a SOHO LOFT BUILDING. It is a dingy,
industrial staircase, poorly lit. He reaches a door with MICHAEL's name
painted on it in large black letters. He knocks loudly. There is no
answer. He pounds on it. Another door opens on the floor above. A head
sticks out.
MAN
You lookin' for Mike?
JACOB
(panting hard)
Where is he?
MAN
Don't know. Hasn't picked his mail up
in days. It's not like him.
JACOB has a frenzied look in his eyes. He searches around the staircase
and sees a pile of lumber stacked in a corner. He grabs a two-by-four
and lunges at the door.
MAN
What the hell are you doing?
JACOB doesn't answer. He smashes wildly at the door until the lock
flies open.
INT. MICHAEL'S LOFT - EVENING
JACOB charges into the dark space groping for a light. He finds it. The
LOFT is a disaster area. Nothing is standing. JACOB runs from room to
room. In the back he discovers a large private chemistry lab. Glass
vials and bottles are shattered on the floor.
JACOB rifles through the cabinets. A few bottles are intact but their
labels mean nothing to him.
He reaches for one cabinet and notices a reddish liquid oozing out from
the bottom. He opens it. MICHAEL's severed head stares him in the face.
It is smiling.
A scream rings out as the MAN from upstairs sees what JACOB has seen.
JACOB jumps back, trips, and falls over MICHAEL's headless body. It is
lying sprawled across the floor.
MAN
Oh my God!
JACOB stumbles to pull himself up. He is in a state of unrelieved
panic. He runs past the MAN and spills out the doorr. He takes two and
three stairs at a time, nearly flying to the street.
EXT. SOHO STREETS - NIGHT
JACOB rushes into the icy air and runs wildly down the sidewalk as fast
as his legs will move. With unexpected violence he charges into the
side of a building. Over and over he hurls himself against it. He grabs
for the bricks. His fingers insert themselves into the crevices. It is
as though he is trying to merge with the wall.
Suddenly JACOB turns and dashes into the street. A taxi is speeding
toward him, its lights the only sign of life and warmth in the dark
night. JACOB steps into its path. It is hard to tell if he is trying to
stop the cab or waiting to be hit. The taxi screeches to a halt. JACOB
stares at it a moment and then steps to get in. The DRIVER tries to
pull off but JACOB yanks at the door and drags himself inside.
INT. TAXI - NIGHT
Rain is beginning to fall. It streaks the windows.
JACOB
(barely audible)
I'm going to Brooklyn.
DRIVER
Sorry, Mac. Not with me you're not. I
get lost in Brooklyn.
JACOB
I know the way.
JACOB reaches into his pants pocket, pulls out a twenty dollar bill,
and hands it to the DRIVER. He takes it.
JACOB
(continuing)
Look, this is all the money I've got
in the world. Take me home and it's
yours.
DRIVER
... Where's your home?
CUT TO THE TAXI heading down WEST BROADWAY, approaching the BROOKLYN
BRIDGE, crossing the EAST RIVER, and driving through dark BROOKLYN
STREETS.
JACOB's face passes in and out of dense shadows. Every time he is
bathed in light his image seems to alter. Something in him is falling
away.
EXT. SARAH'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
JACOB gets out of the TAXI and approaches the LOBBY of SARAH'S
APARTMENT BUILDING. JACOB is greeted by the DOORMAN.
DOORMAN
Dr. Singer. It's been a long time.
JACOB
(greeting him warmly)
Hello, Sam.
DOORMAN
(noticing JACOB's
battered condition)
Are you all right?
JACOB
I'm okay.
DOORMAN
Do you want some help? I can call
upstairs.
JACOB
No, don't. But thanks.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
JACOB stops in front of the APARTMENT door and reaches his hand
underneath a section of the hallway carpet. It comes back with a key.
He inserts it into the lock and gently opens the door. He calls out.
JACOB
Hello. It's me.
INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Some lights are on. The APARTMENT looks comfortable and cozy.
JACOB
Hello? Is anybody home? Jed? Eli?
Daddy's here.
There is still no answer. JACOB is surprised. He peers into the dark
LIVING ROOM and then walks to the KITCHEN. No one is around. A photo of
JACOB, SARAH, AND THEIR BOYS is sitting on the counter. He picks it up
and carries it with him through the apartment. He walks into his old
BEDROOM and then into the BOYS' ROOM. The beds are still unmade. There
is no one home. He sees his image in the BATHROOM mirror and turns away
in disgust. He walks back to the LIVING ROOM. He is about to switch the
lights on when he hears footsteps coming down the hall. He calls out.
JACOB
Sarah, is that you? I hope you don't
mind. I needed to come home.
JACOB is startled to see JEZZIE enter the room. She does not seem he
usual self. She appears larger, more imposing.
JEZZIE
Hello, Jake. I knew you'd come here
in the end.
JACOB is nervous.
JACOB
What're you ... ? Where's Sarah?
Where are the boys?
JEZZIE
Sit down, Jake.
JACOB
Where are they?
JEZZIE
Sit down.
JACOB
No! What's going on? Where's my
family?
JEZZIE
It's over, Jake. It's all over.
JACOB
Where have they gone?
JEZZIE
Wake up. Stop playing with yourself.
It's finished.
JEZZIE stares at JACOB with a frightening, powerful glare. The edge of
her coat rustles and flutters as she moves toward him. It is an
innocent sound at first, but after a moment it transforms into
something else, an obsessive flapping noise, the sound of a wing.
JACOB's body feels the first waves of an inner tremor. His legs are
shaking.
JACOB
What's going on?
JEZZIE
Your capacity for self-delusion is
remarkable, Dr. Singer.
JEZZIE begins walking around the dark living room as she talks to him.
Something about her walk is very unnatural. JACOB eyes her fearfully.
In the darkness JEZZIE's movements become increasingly strange and
elusive. We see her pass before a shadow and disappear within it, only
to reappear, seconds later, in a doorway on the other side of the room.
JACOB spins around, confused. Suddenly JEZZIE is inches from his face,
although it seems like there has been no time for her to get there. Her
movements are totally impossible, defying all logic, all physical laws.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
What's wrong, Jake?
(she mocks him)
Forget to take your antidote?
JACOB
Who are you? What are you doing to me?
JEZZIE
You have quite a mind, Jake. I loved
your friends. That chemist - the
Ladder. What an imagination you have!
JACOB freezes.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
And your vision of paradise ...
fantastic! You're a real dreamer, you
know that? Only it's time to wake up.
JEZZIE has disappeared in the darkness of the room. Only the sounds of
flapping wings remain. They grow louder and more menacing, whooshing
past him with no visible source.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Your mind is crumbling, Jake. No more
"army." No more conspiracies. You're
dying, Dr. Singer. It's over.
JACOB, frightened, turns toward the door as if to hurry out. "JEZZIE"
laughs.
JEZZIE
(continuing)
Where's to run, Jacob? Where's to go?
JACOB pauses a moment and then turns to confront the terror behind him.
JACOB
WHO ARE YOU?
JEZZIE
How many times have you asked me
that? How many times?
JACOB
TELL ME, DAMN YOU!
JEZZIE
(with consummate power)
YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
JEZZIE appears from the shadows. Her coat collar obscures her and it
seems for a moment that she has no face. Then, to JACOB's horror, she
turns around. He is staring at the vibrating creature he has seen so
often before. Glimpsed almost in abstraction it is a living terror,
dark and undefinable. Its face is a black and impenetrable void in
constant vibration. Its voice is an unspeakable demonic cry, the
essence of fear and suffering. JACOB pulls away from it, overhwelmed by
confusion. He is rooted in fear.
A sudden wind howls through the room, great gales blowing JACOB's hair
straight up. It is like a hurricane pushing him into the wall. He can
barely stand. He struggles to pull himself away. The flapping sound
returns, charging at him from all directions. It is as if the darkness
itself is swooping down, trying to envelop him.
JACOB
(whispering to himself)
This isn't happening.
New terrible sounds arise, chain saws slashing through the air, knives,
and sabers ripping through space with unrelenting anger. Guns fire and
explode past his head. It is as though all the sounds of destruction
are closing in on him. JACOB yells but his own voice is lost in the
melee. Terrified, he looks heavenward, as if crying for help.
Suddenly, from the noise, a calm voice rises, speaking, as if from a
distance. It is LOUIS. JACOB is shocked to hear him. He stands
motionless.
LOUIS (V.O.)
If you're frightened of dying you'll
see devils tearing you apart. If
you've made your peace then they're
angels freeing you from the world.
The voice fades. JACOB just stands there, not sure what to do. And then
the sounds return. Only now they are more terrifying than ever.
Hideously loud, they become a cacophony of sounds, voices of parents,
friends, lovers, the sounds of battle, fighting, and dying.
JACOB looks up and sees the creature in the center of the room. All the
sounds seem to emenate from it. The more JACOB stares at it the louder
they become. After a moment, JACOB takes a huge breath. We sense a
great resolve forming inside him. Then, slowly, courageously, he begins
moving toward it.
NEw and more terrifying noises assault JACOB, attempting to drive him
back, but he will not be stopped. He continues walking toward the
creature.
In the hallway a standing lamp slams sparking to the floor. It rolls
back and forth like a living thing, with a maddening hypnotic
regularity. Doors slam open and closed, unlatching, snapping, shutting,
with deafening force. The room itself seems like an organic presence.
It is alive, angry, and threatening.
The CREATURE sits in the midst of the insanity like the source of
madness itself. It writhes, contorts and vibrates with unstoppable
fury. JACOB, terrified, but unrelenting, continues to approach it.
AS THE CAMERA DRAWS CLOSER TO THE CREATURE'S HEAD the density of its
featureless form overwhelms the screen. It is like staring into
emptiness itself, the ultimate darkness.
With superhuman effort JACOB grabs hold of the creature. It is like
grabbing hold of a live wire. His body begins shaking uncontrollably
like a man being electrocuted. He is flying in all directions but does
not let go. His fingers claw at the creature's head. JACOB struggles
defiantly with the monster.
Suddenly a terrible voice emerges from within it.
CREATURE
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FIGHTING!
JACOB does not respond. It cries out again.
CREATURE
WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
FIGHTING?
Deep inside the darkness JACOB begins to make out the presence of a
form, something writhing and tortured lurking before us. It looks
briefly like an animal until we realize it is the image of a human
face. It is covered by a dark suffocating film, like a mask.
JACOB digs into it with all his might and pulls it off.
CUT TO:
DEAD SILENCE as JACOB SEES HIS OWN FACE staring back at him from
beneath the mask. It is JACOB SINGER as we first saw him on the
battlefield in Vietnam. Only now his image is pale and lifeless. It
takes JACOB a moment to realize that he is dead. The recognition is one
of terrible confusion and pain. JACOB stares at himself for a long time
as a huge cry wells up inside him. It bursts forth with devastating
sadness.
As that instant the whole of space seems to explode in a flash of
catacylsmic power. Hundreds of images from JACOB's life flash before
us, his birth, his childhood, his adulthood. The demons, the room,
JEZZIE, LOUIS, MICHAEL, SARAH, all seem to assail us in a rush of
blinding intensity.
We are flying over a landscape of memories, zooming across a constantly
changing field of images. Some of the images move, some of the people
in them speak. They are not particularly significant memories, in some
ways they are quite banal, but something about them is infused with
life and joy. Even the painful moments resonate with vital force. Some
of the moments we recognize from the time we've spent with JACOB. Some
we have not seen before. There is no order to them, no logic to why
they have been recalled.
A newborn baby takes its first breath and screams. SARAH pulls clothes
off a clothes line on a rainy day. JACOB's FATHER stands in the Florida
surf as sea foam laps gently at his legs. PAUL, FRANK, and JACOB play
cards on the edge of a rice paddy. GABE rides his bike into the path of
an oncoming car. A child puts his ear next to a bowl of cereal,
listening to it talk. A young girl standing in a doorway lifts up her
blouse to show her new breasts. JACOB and SARAH slice a wedding cake
that topples to the floor. JEZZIE looks at JACOB and asks "Love me a
little?"
And then it is over. Total silence overwhelms the screen, a wonderful
soothing calm. JACOB's eyes open and he is shocked to find himself
sitting on the floor in SARAH's apartment. He is all alone. The first
rays of early morning sunlight are filtering through the window.
Something about the apartment seems transfigured, magical. JACOB sits
motionless, stunned to be back there.
The faint sound of music can be heard coming from the hallway. It is
warm and familiar, the tinkling of a music box. JACOB listens to it for
a few moments and then something registers inside him. Curious, he gets
up and approaches the corridor.
JACOB
Hello?
There is no response. Suddenly the music stops. JACOB freezes for a
moment. He sees someone standing in the shadows at the other end.
JACOB
(continuing)
Who is it? Who's there?
Tentatively JACOB moves forward. As he draws closer he begins to see
the outline of a child. Then, all of a sudden, he realizes who it is.
His eyes well up as he stands there, the full impact of the moment
registering inside him. It's his son, GABE. He is carrying the same
musical lunch box we have seen before. The young boy smiles warmly at
his father. It is the smile of an angel. JACOB swallows hard.
JACOB
(continuing)
Gabe? Gabe!
JACOB runs to his son. Unable to hold back the tears, he embraces him
in a rush of love and emotion.
JACOB
(continuing)
Gabe. Oh God. I don't believe ...
They hug one another over and over. JACOB, overcome, sits down on the
stiars. After a moment GABE puts his arm around his father's shoulder
in a gesture of surprising maturity and compassion. We sense for an
instant that their roles have reversed. GABE reaches for JACOB's hand
and gently encourages him to stand up.
With a sweet tug GABE leads his father up the steps.
Sunlight streams down from the top of the stiars, hitting the first
landing. GABE is bathed in its warm glow. As JACOB reaches the landing,
he too is surrounded by the comforting light.
GABE hurries up the last set of stairs. JACOB turns to follow but is
stunned by the brilliance of the light pouring in from above.
Squinting, he cannot see his son. Then suddenly GABE steps back out of
the light and takes his father's hand once more. His eyes sparkle with
excitement.
GABE
Come on Dad ... You know what we've
got? A sandbox just like the
Williston's, only it's bigger and the
sand's all white. You won't believe
it.
JACOB smiles at his son. GABE smiles at him. It is a moment of total
euphoria. THE CAMERA HOLDS as they continue up the stairs.
GABE
(continuing)
And my parakeet. Remember, the one
grandma let out of the cage? He's
okay. And he's talking now. He knows
my name.
GABE's voice slowly trails off as he and his father disappear in the
intenstity of the light. THE CAMERA HOLDS on the image. For a brief but
stunning moment there appears to be a huge ethereal staircase
shimmering before us. It rises up into infinite dimensions. Then the
brilliance of its blinding light overwhelms the screen.
Suddenly the brightness condenses into a smaller light source. It holds
for a second and then flashes off. An overhead surgical lamp remains
stubbornly in view.
INT. VIETNAM FIELD HOSPITAL - DAY
A DOCTOR leans his head in front of the lamp and removes his mask. His
expression is somber. He shakes his head. His words are simple and
final.
DOCTOR
He's gone.
CUT TO JACOB SINGER lying on an operating table in a large ARMY FIELD
TENT in VIETNAM. The DOCTOR steps away. A NURSE rudely pulls a green
sheet over his head. The DOCTOR turns to one of the aides and throws up
his hands in defeat.
AN ORDERLY wheels JACOB's body past rows of other DOCTORS and NURSES
fighting to save lives. A YOUNG VIETNAMESE BOY pulls back a screen door
to let them out of the tent. It is a bright, fresh morning. The sun is
rising.
THE END